
FarmedHere
Indoor commercial vertical farm creating local produce and local jobs in a sustainable farming environment.
Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
---|---|---|---|
investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | N/A | Debt | |
Total Funding | 000k |
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FarmedHere was a pioneering enterprise in the commercial vertical farming sector, operating out of the Chicago area. The company was co-founded by Jolanta Hardej, who served as CEO, and Paul Hardej, who was the Vice President of Development. Jolanta Hardej, with a background as an interior designer and mortgage broker, envisioned the farm following the 2008 market collapse, launching the first operations in 2011. The company aimed to address food sustainability by growing produce locally in urban centers, thereby reducing transportation costs and the associated carbon footprint.
Its business model centered on converting post-industrial warehouses into high-tech indoor farms. At its peak, FarmedHere operated a 90,000-square-foot facility in Bedford Park, IL, which it claimed was the largest indoor farm in the U.S. The company utilized a combination of aquaponic and aeroponic systems. The aquaponic system was a symbiotic environment raising tilapia fish whose waste provided organic nutrients for herbs like basil, while the aeroponic system cultivated leafy greens such as arugula. This method allowed for year-round production without pesticides or herbicides and used up to 97% less water than traditional agriculture. A significant milestone was achieving USDA Organic certification in late 2012, a first for a vertical farm in the United States.
The company's primary clients were grocery retailers and restaurants in the Chicago metropolitan area, including major customers like Whole Foods Market, which also provided funding through its Local Producer Loan Program. Revenue was generated from the direct sale of its certified organic greens and herbs. Over its lifespan, FarmedHere experienced several leadership changes. In 2017, the parent company, Here Holdings, ceased farming operations, citing high labor and energy costs, as well as increasing market competition. The company then pivoted its strategy to focus on producing branded food products like dressings and juices under the 'Here' brand, using produce sourced from other local farms.
Keywords: FarmedHere, vertical farming, aquaponics, aeroponics, urban agriculture, indoor farming, local food, sustainable agriculture, Chicago business, organic produce, Jolanta Hardej, Whole Foods Market, food sustainability, controlled environment agriculture, leafy greens, urban farm, Here Holdings, specialty greens, local sourcing, agricultural technology, food production