Huge Indoor Farms Turning Coal Country Into Food Hub With Help From Martha Stewart

In a press release she said, “AppHarvest’s high-tech, sustainable approach is the future of food, and this first harvest allows us to provide consumers with chemical pesticide-free,nutrient-rich, flavorful produce that’s making a difference they can feel good about.”

All of their indoor farms are located in Kentucky. They are focusing on providing their produce to the Appalachian area. With all their customers within a day's drive, they can deliver fresh produce when it is at its peak.

Jonathan Webb, the founder and CEO, says their mission is to “build a climate-resilient infrastructure to offer folks a delicious tomato that is sustainably grown right here in Appalachia with 100% recycled rainwater and zero chemical pesticides, making it better for both them and the environment.”

AppHarvest has provided high-tech container farms to high schools across eastern Kentucky. The container farms are in retrofitted shipping containers. The hope is to help schools incorporate agriculture technology into the curriculum. The containers will allow students to learn about the importance of farming and nutrition by growing their own food.

The farmers have grown and harvested beefsteak tomatoes, which will be available at stores like Walmart and Kroger. You might even see them featured in a future Martha Stewart recipe. In a press release, she said, "I've been testing the early sample tomatoes, which are delicious, and I'm already looking forward to integrating them into my kitchen and recipes this year."

If AppHarvest can make sustainable foods more available to local customers, I think we can all agree that it’s a good thing!

h/t: Good News Network