"GFS has already forged impactful partnerships with over 258 schools by supplying school gardens. We've also worked with various organizations, bringing sustainable farming to communities across the Northeast. The focus is not just on delivering fresh produce but also integrating educational components to foster a zero carbon emissions food system through a new model of urban farming, we call a Farm Amenity®," says Mary Wetherill, Co-founder and CEO of Green Food Solutions, an NYC-based agtech.
Green Food Solutions (GFS), led by Founding President Mary Wetherill, celebrates its sixth anniversary in sustainable farming. Having specialized in collaborative initiatives with schools, organizations, and businesses, placing a strong emphasis on education and community engagement, GFS is now ready for its next step, franchising.
Another farm that GFS helped with setting up
Mary also notes a growing trend towards indoor hybrid cultivation, particularly in states like North Carolina, where farmers can start earlier in the Spring and extend their growing season into the winter months.
GFS has sold, installed, and ultimately started 34 farms varying from micro farms to 10,000-square-foot greenhouses. Its vertical farm clients and vertical farm operations training clients are across 8 states in the US: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Colorado.
On top of that, the company works beyond borders, such as in Tokyo and Kamiyama in Japan and Nairobi, Kenya.
Container farm training
GFS has always said they envisioned cities to be filled with farms one day, citing the potential for massive produce based on buildings. To further their goals GFS is now venturing into franchising to make sustainable farming accessible and affordable.
"We want to assist commercial growers by focusing on operational setup and addressing workflow challenges rather than delving into business models. We emphasize modularity, flexibility, and enhancing produce quality, cleanliness, and maintenance. We're not in the business itself as much, but we support business models in a commercial setting as we help start green solution businesses, local nonprofit farms, GFS businesses, etc., with business training, access to templates, contracts, and everything else," Mary affirms.
GFS visiting their Japan partners
In collaboration with their office in Japan, GFS intends to offer their current in-person comprehensive training together with the development of software, now built into the software, so agricultural operations and systems maintenance tasks are automatically generated based on the size of their farm and growing system. This system is specifically designed for new growers and next-generation farmers delving into CEA and green solutions business regardless of experience level.
Investors are invited to the launch in Japan, where the prototype will be showcased, and virtual meetings will provide a deeper understanding of GFS's venture, particularly into the Japanese market.
For more information:
Green Food Solutions
Mary Wetherill, Co-founder and CEO
mary@greenfoodsolutions.com
www.greenfoodsolutions.com