“You can build a successful business that’s also a steward for the greater good”

Planted Detroit, an indoor farm in the heart of one of America's most industrial cities, is doing more than just growing greens. For Chief Operating Officer Darian Ahler, it's about restoring vitality to communities, one flavorful salad at a time.

"This is a place that could be revitalized by growing healthy, affordable, accessible food that also just happens to taste delicious," says Ahler. "You can build a successful business that's also thoughtful and sustainable, a steward for the greater good."

© Planted Detroit

Farming flavor indoors
The company's climate-controlled farm is mapped out by growth stage: freshly seeded greens on one rack, a one-week crop on the next, and harvest-ready greens soon after. But it's not just timing that matters; it's customization. "Our lights are red-blue and far red," Ahler explains. "They mimic the way the sun hits the plants at different times of day. Changing your lighting profile will change the profile and flavor of the leaf."

Beyond leafy greens, the farm also grows a variety of microgreens under full-spectrum lighting, including micro broccoli and micro carrots. "Micro broccoli tastes just like broccoli, and the carrot, it's just a little leaf, but it tastes exactly like a carrot." Lighting and water are applied with precision. "Just like our nutrient water has recipes, our lights have recipes. We can tailor intensity, duration, and spectrum based on the variety to get the healthiest, most delicious high-quality plants."

© Planted Detroit

Circular systems in an industrial city
Sustainability is a core focus and not just in theory. "The water we use is recycled as many times as we can until the plants drink it up," says Ahler. Once the growing media has done its job, it doesn't go to waste either.

"All the media gets composted and then redistributed to communities. In Detroit, because of industrialization, the soil often contains chemicals. So we're able to help people build healthy urban gardens with better soil inputs." That loop, from resource to reuse, is central to the company's approach. "Circularity is a big part of the work we do."

A distribution model that supports people
Planted Detroit delivers its produce via a weekly subscription model. "Every Wednesday, we pack individually for our subscribers and send them out across the greater Detroit area," Ahler explains. "You're not spending time in the store comparing price points. You know you're getting a great product straight to your doorstep."

To manage distribution, the company partners with local third-party logistics providers. "That supports the gig economy and creates local jobs. It also helps us keep costs down without having to hire full-time delivery staff for something that only happens once a week."

© Planted Detroit

Designed for efficiency
With indoor farming, every square foot counts. "The levels are close together, and the towers are close together. All on rolling racks," says Ahler. "That lets us fit as many plants as possible while still being able to access each one."

Even the light bleed is planned for. "If the lights are closer, we can capture any spillover and make sure it's absorbed by the plants, which helps minimize waste on the energy side."

Building a sustainable business ecosystem
Ahler believes Detroit is ripe for sustainable innovation. "There's a huge appetite for it. As we develop new technologies and sales channels, it becomes more interesting and attractive. That makes it easier not just for us, but for other sustainable businesses too."

Ahler describes a positive feedback loop: "It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where we're able to lift each other up and take steps together to be more sustainable. That benefits our local communities and has broader environmental impacts too."