Fork Farms announced a new multi-faceted partnership with Makers Row in West Allis, Wisconsin, resulting in the development of an urban farm capable of growing thousands of pounds of locally-grown, fresh produce for consumers.
This collaboration is a natural fit for Fork Farms and Makers Row, as both share the goal of building a more sustainable and resilient food system. Makers Row announced that it has formed a new business entity, Makers Row Farms LLC, that will occupy more than 5,000 square feet of the Makers Row food cluster at the corner of West National Avenue and 66th Street in the City of West Allis.
The new indoor hydroponic farm will feature all of Fork Farms technology, including a Flex Acre Connect, an 8-unit Flex Connect, and 1-2 Flex Micros. With the potential to grow up to 34,000 pounds of fresh, nutrient-dense lettuces and other greens annually, this expansive farm will serve as a vital source of fresh, local food and will be the perfect addition to the Makers Row development, a food-centric hub for independent businesses.
Fork Farms will also open its Milwaukee-area headquarters and hydroponic showroom within Makers Row. Makers Row represents one of the largest concentrations of hydroponic growing systems in the region. Co-locating within a food-focused hub, the Fork Farms and Makers Row partnership creates a powerful new model for advancing urban agriculture through unique development projects that incorporate increasing access to fresh food.
Fork Farms creates the most efficient, affordable, and impactful hydroponic growing systems on the market today. Fork Farms technology reduces water usage by 98% compared to traditional farming, eliminates the need for transportation emissions, and drastically cuts food waste. The result is the shortest farm-to-consumer network which allows the food to retain the highest amount of beneficial nutrients. All of Fork Farms hydroponic growing systems are designed to reduce maintenance time and labor requirements while enhancing crop production and increasing efficiency. Hydroponic systems often result in faster plant growth and higher yields compared to traditional soil farming due to the fact that they are grown in a controlled environment. The unmatched efficiency and productivity of Fork Farms’ technology directly translates to lower production costs and a greater return on investment for partners and customers.
“We are elated to partner with Makers Row Farms and support them with growing thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the local community,” said Michael Hostad, Chief Revenue Officer for Fork Farms. “In addition, we are proud to open a new Milwaukee headquarters and hydroponics showroom for our expanding company. By growing food locally where it’s consumed, we create a more sustainable, resilient food system for future generations”.
“The City of West Allis has been a key supporter of this initiative and our overall goal of welcoming only privately owned, Wisconsin-based businesses to Makers Row”, added Robert Monnat, developer of Makers Row. “In addition to corporate clients looking to support highly nutritious in-house dining for employees, we see opportunities to support direct-to-consumer sales through the adjoining West Allis Farmers Market and direct-from-factory sales.”
