US (KS): Hydroponic leafy greens also successful in rural areas

While much of the country’s indoor hydroponic food production is being done by growers located near large urban areas, mGardens in Gorham, Kan., is bucking the trend. Tom Murphy, who is the company’s operator, asked why should people living in or near large cities be the only ones able to enjoy the taste, freshness and nutrition associated with hydroponic leafy greens?

“My wife Jo and I first got interested in hydroponic food production when we talked to Ron Cramer,” Murphy said. “Ron and my wife are from the same home town, went through school together and continue a longtime friendship.

“When Ron retired from Sakata Seed he got interested in hydroponic food production with LED lights. He has been talking to me and my wife for about five years about growing leafy greens. He said more food production is moving in this direction. This is related to the loss of freshness and nutritional value during shipping of perishable crops.”

In 2015, Tom, Ron and their wives met with Chris Higgins at Hort Americas, a horticultural distributor in Bedford, Texas.

“While we were in Texas we visited a Central Market grocery store that is using a GrowRack to offer its customers fresh produce,” Murphy said. “The store was growing hydroponic lettuce in its produce department and marketing it to its shoppers. You can’t get any fresher and local than that.”