North Dakota's long, cold winters make growing food outside nearly impossible. Now, new greenhouse and indoor farm technology is aiming to keep vegetables local, fresh, and available year-round.
The Second Annual Controlled Environment Agriculture Conference wrapped up today at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. Over two days, growers, researchers, and community leaders explored how to grow lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and even strawberries indoors using advanced greenhouse and vertical farm systems.
Day one took participants to two working examples. In Parshall, Native Green Grow — owned and operated by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation — uses compressed natural gas from tribal oil wells to heat its greenhouse and grow produce year-round. In Sawyer, Renfandt Geothermal Greenhouse taps heat from deep underground to control temperatures and keep plants thriving through the winter. Both projects are already improving food access in native communities and small towns.
"This technology is already at work in native communities and small towns, helping families get fresh food without relying on long-distance shipping," organizers said.
Read more at KX News
