By Steve Reinbrecht
A group of farm people and development people from
Berks County plan to meet June 27 to continue discussing the creation of a
vertical farm somewhere in Reading.
Vertical farming is the rather new method of growing food in
racks or on walls in buildings, often where light, temperature, humidity and
other variables can be controlled for the best productivity.
It demands a big initial investment but might pay off because
of new light technology, lower utility costs, the demand for fresh produce in
urban areas, and the opportunity to use vacant urban buildings.
Berks County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt said he plans to meet
with the group to decide how to find a good location in the city as well as identify
investors, developers, and other supporters. They also plan to create a
technology committee.
Members include Tom McMahon, a former Reading mayor; Tim
Daley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity; Tami S.Hildebrand, executive
director of the Berks agriculture department; and staff from St. Joseph
Medical Center and ReDesign Reading, a community development agency.
In a quick Internet search, I found that Philadelphia CityCouncil is considering a resolution to support vertical farming.
One such farm seems to be succeeding in that city.
On the other hand, I found stories about an apparently
failed project to grow basil and other produce in a vertical farm near
Scranton. It had high hopes when it opened in December 2013, according to Farm and Dairy.
“Green Spirit Farms LLC will establish a vertical farm
system that will grow leafy vegetables, peppers and tomatoes in East Benton
Township, Lackawanna County. The company is projected to invest more than $27
million to acquire an existing 300,000-square-foot building and is expected to
create at least 101 jobs.”
And then it failed, because of problems getting funding, the
operator said.
“Green Spirit Farms was producing basil, gourmet radishes
and other greens at the former Corning facility in East Benton Township, but
the effort never expanded beyond a sizeable demo project, and in March 2014
called it quits.
“The problem was financing, said Milan Kluko, executive
director of Green Spirit Farms, blaming a private backer for backing down.
““We brought the know-how and the equipment to demonstrate
the project,” he said. “The financial deal didn’t come together.””
Barnhardt mentioned the idea May 10 at a forum about community
development.
“Calling Reading the "hub" of the county, he said
county government and other municipalities need to "reach in and
help" where they can.
“One example, given in response to an audience question
about a specific project each of the panelists would like to see get done, was
about a new concept called "vertical farming."
“Barnhardt said a man in Philadelphia has been turning
abandoned warehouses into hydroponic farms, an idea that could work for a
building such as the Penn Optical building in Reading.
“Barnhardt said such an effort - which could be done with
county and city support - would provide jobs, fresh food and restore a blighted
property.
On Friday, Barnhardt said the group is considering other buildings, as
there are many to choose from.
No budget or timeline has been set, he said.
Maybe Reading’s indoor horticulture future is medical
marijuana.
Two men want to start growing medical cannabis in an
unidentified building in Reading.
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