Vertical Harvest offers a glimpse inside every other Friday.
If you’ve ever walked by the neon lights of the Vertical Harvest greenhouse and wondered what goes on inside, you’re in luck. The hydroponic greenhouse just brought back farm tours after a long pause since the start of the pandemic.
“Coming in for a tour is a great way to feel the magic of the greenhouse and meet some of our employees that have been with us since Vertical Harvest started 6 years ago,” says Vertical Harvest’s Kyra Foley.
Led by greenhouse employees, the ten person tours last about 45 minutes, walking through the entire greenhouse to learn all about the growing process and Vertical Harvest’s unique employment model. Vertical Harvest’s mission is to develop underutilized urban space to provide fresh, local food to communities, while providing meaningful work for underserved populations, often with developmental disabilities.
“I like being able to share my own personal story, and spreading the word about disabilities,” says Vertical Harvest Grow Well Associate and Tour Guide, Nikki Thompson. “It’s also cool to show people a revolutionary greenhouse that is going to change the world!”
The hydroponic growing systems allow the farm to produce fresh greens, microgreens, and tomatoes all year long, which they supply local restaurants with as well as selling in grocery stores around town. In a town like Jackson with a short growing season, fresh produce from Vertical Harvest is a highlight of the short winter days.
While the Jackson farm is the flagship Vertical Harvest space, it’s a national organization that aims to take this model to other cities around the country. There’s a farm in Maine scheduled to open ini 2023, and plans to expand to Chicago as well.
“I think it’s important to give tours so we can spread the word, not only about the first vertical, hydroponic greenhouse in the USA, which is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, but to show people that with help and modifications, people with disabilities are just as capable of doing the things that other people are able to do. Sometimes even better!,” adds Thompson.
Tours start at 1 p.m. every other Friday. You can make a reservation online or by emailing marketing@verticalharvestfarms.com.
