Talk:AeroFarms

Aeroponic farming process
AeroFarms uses aeroponic technology in their farms. Unlike hydroponics, aeroponics utilizes a closed loop system to mist the roots of the greens with nutrients, water, and oxygen. The growing cloth medium is made out of BPA-free, post-consumer recycled plastic. The cloth can be fully sanitized after harvest and then reseeded with no risk of contamination. Acting as a barrier between the mist and the plants, the cloth allows for a clean, dry and ready to eat product. LED lights are engineered to have specific spectrum, intensity, and frequency which controls the physical and flavor components of the produce. The controlled indoor environment disrupts the normal cycle of indoor pests so they never get started. This pest resistant design does away with the need for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

According to AeroFarms, their aeroponic method uses 95% less water than field farming and 40% less water than hydroponics. Their farms are 390 times more productive per square foot than traditional farms. Aerofarms grows leafy green vegetables such as kale, arugula, watercress, pac choi, and spring mixes. These products are ready to eat, certified OU Kosher, certified non-GMO, and pesticide free.

History
AeroFarms began in 2004 in the Finger Lakes area of New York. In 2015, its headquarters was relocated to Newark, New Jersey. The company was co-founded by CEO David Rosenberg, CMO Marc Oshima, and CSO (Chief Science Officer) Edward Harwood.

Locations
In September 2016, AeroFarms began seeding at its Global Headquarters, a 70,000 square-foot indoor, vertical farm. The company has operated nine locations since its launch, a 5,500 square-foot research and development farm opened in 2013; and a 30,000 square-foot farm in Newark opened in August 2015. AeroFarms became a Certified B Corporation in 2017. The company currently owns and four farming facilities in the Newark.

Market Street
The 5,500 square-foot research and development farm in downtown Newark was once a nightclub. Its first seeding took place in November of 2013. This location is now used to rethink the fundamentals of agriculture and search for ways to continually improve engineering and growing algorithms.

Ferry Street
In 2015, a 30,000 square-foot former paintball and laser tag arena became a growing space. This was built to meet the intense market demand for AeroFarms greens and to feed the people of Newark and the surrounding area.

Rome Street
The AeroFarms Global Headquarters is a 70,000 square-foot facility. Upon completion became the world's largest Building-integrated agriculture sites of its type. The first seeding occurred in September of 2016, making this location the largest indoor vertical farm in the world based on annual growing capacity. The farm was built in a 75 year old former steel mill facility, producing up to two million pounds of leafy greens per year. The farm being being developed at the site of a former Grammer, Dempsey and Hudson steel plant in Irondbound section of  the city. The buildings are being razed to giant custom-built complex, The complex, a group of metal-block, low-slung buildings, for its sole tenant, AeroFarms, a company producing herbs and vegetables, and will also serve ad comp may headquarters. It is expected to grow 1.3 million pounds of produce annually, which should feed about 60,000 people. The project is being developed by the RBH Group with backing backing from the the Urban Investment Group of Goldman Sachs is picking up the bulk of the $39 million cost for development of the AeroFarms Ironbound complex, using equity, debt and bridge financing. Prudential Financial, headquartered in Newark, is also an investor. The project received $9 million in city and state money, in tax credits and grants.The complex also includes contain labs, offices and a cafe

Philip’s Academy
AeroFarms has a fourth functioning farm in the dining hall of the Phillips Academy Charter School in Newark, New Jersey. The 50 square foot farm opened in September of 2001; This 50 square-foot farm was opened in September of 2011 and gives students access to fresh, healthy foods and the opportunity to grow their own local produce. Djflem (talk) 04:11, 24 October 2021 (UTC)