Sep 10, 2013
Garden Fresh Farms Hydroponic System Receives Award

Garden Fresh Farms has received a $25,000 prize as the winner of the energy and clean technology division of the Minnesota Cup competition.

Garden Fresh Farms has received a $25,000 prize as the winner of the energy and clean technology division of the Minnesota Cup competition.

The Garden Fresh Farms’ patent-pending, high-density hydroponic growing system grows produce without pesticides or herbicides in an enclosed environment, such as warehouses or other available property. This year-round production process uses less water than traditional agricultural methods and produces twice the produce while using less energy than other second-generation indoor farming methods which use stacked layers of produce beds.

The barriers to this market segment have been crop density and energy consumption. Garden Fresh Farms says it was able to demonstrate to the panel of judges that this new equipment has overcome those barriers. Additionally, transportation costs can be substantially reduced since it is locally grown in an urban warehouse.

Nearly 1,100 applicants competed for the finalist position in one of the six divisions of the Minnesota Cup competition. This is a competition of new ventures with breakthrough ideas from across the state. Since 2005, more than 7,000 startup ventures have entered the competition.

For more information on the hydroponic system, visit www.gardenfreshfarms.com.