Hydroponic farming is a growing industry in Indiana. "Hydroponic farming allows us to reimagine how and where we can grow food," says Mario Vitalis. "We are no longer bound to the rules of traditional farming. Technology gives us a new way to farm and a fresh take on the supply chain."
Vitalis is owner of New Age Provisions, where he grows a variety of leafy greens inside two 40-foot shipping containers on a repurposed used car lot off 10th Street in Indianapolis. His Indiana-based hydroponic farming operation requires no land or soil, and it uses controlled lighting and less water to produce nutritious, locally grown kale, lettuce, herbs and collard greens.
For New Age Provisions, the technology is a turnkey solution – a container already outfitted with a system that controls air, lighting and water, so plants can be grown efficiently 365 days of the year.
"Each container is equal to what can be produced on 3.5 acres of land," Vitalis says. "The benefits are that we don't have to worry about Mother Nature, about harsh weather or drought. The environment is controlled, so the plants get exactly what they need. Plus, we can get the produce to the customer right after we harvest it. In an urban environment, we're filling a real need for fresh produce."
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