Connecticut’s Hydroponic Farms Aim To End Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is on the rise in Connecticut: 1 in 8 locals, including 1 in 6 children, sadly experience hunger on a regular basis. To help combat this crisis, Connecticut (along with the five other New England states) aim to grow and harvest at least 30% of their food locally by 2030.

Hydroponic urban farms — which grow food without soil and with at least 90% less water than conventional methods — will play a key role in Connectcut’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient food system. Already, hydroponic systems are in use across the state and provide local communities with an abundance of fresh, nutritious produce. 

Feeding Hartford’s North End with hydroponics 

Levo International — a nonprofit committed to ending food insecurity across the U.S. and internationally — recently established a hydroponic urban farm in Hartford’s North End in an effort to combat food insecurity. Currently, Hartford has the highest food insecurity rate (32%) in the state. The farm was built in a small, empty space next to an apartment block, and the hydroponic system can function efficiently outside from April to November.  

Up to forty plants can be grown simultaneously, but the exact volume produced depends on which varieties are selected. For example, if locals choose to just grow tomatoes, the system has the potential to grow hundreds of pounds at any one time.

But, currently, the farm is used to produce a variety of vegetables with a smaller yield overall. In total, twenty pounds of produce is grown every few weeks. This is obviously far more than could be produced via conventional farming in the small space provided. 

Hydroponics: the future of sustainable farming  

Hydroponic farms can produce anywhere between three to ten times more crops per unit of land than traditional farms, research from Princeton University reveals. As hydroponics doesn’t require much room, it’s ideal for cramped urban environments where the soil may also be poor quality (unfortunately, lead and other heavy metals have previously been identified in soil throughout Connecticut’s community gardens).

But, instead of soil, hydroponic systems rely on nutrient-infused water that typically contains nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The plant roots are submerged in this water where they absorb the nutrients (along with oxygen) to fuel healthy growth. Hydroponic systems also reuse water, so it doesn’t evaporate and drain away—which makes them even more sustainable. In some cases, but not always, a growing medium (usually coconut coir) is added to aid nutrient absorption. 

Connecticut’s sustainable restaurants

Sustainable food is increasingly a priority for consumers across Connecticut as well as the wider U.S.. For instance, 38% of diners say they prefer to frequent restaurants that serve locally-sourced foods over those that don’t. 30% also say they specifically choose restaurants that offer food grown via eco-friendly methods (including hydroponics).

To cater to this demand and give themselves a competitive edge, restaurants throughout the state have incorporated local produce into their menus. For example, Skappo, a family-run Italian spot in New Haven, goes the extra mile for their diners. “Chefs often visit nearby farmers’ markets to handpick the best ingredients available”, Connecticut visitor guide explains.

This step is crucial to make the dishes as sustainable as they are fresh and flavorsome. Skappo’s fresh soup, in particular, is made from scratch each day; the flavor based on ingredients available. 

Hartford Pizza Garden, a popular local pizzeria in Hartford, also now grows fresh produce via a hydroponic system — right inside the restaurant’s kitchen. Restaurant owner, Pepe Burby, and his business partner, Bryan Dubay, currently hydroponically grow fresh herbs like oregano, parsley, and basil, along with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and micro-greens (nutrient-dense young vegetable greens).

Look out for chopped salad pizza (that’s pizza topped with hydroponically-grown salad) to be added to the menu in due course. In time, Burby and Dubay also intend to establish another, larger hydroponic farm to keep up with growing consumer demand for fresh, sustainable produce. 

Hydroponic urban farms can help Connecticut end food insecurity for good. From small community farms to restaurants who recognize the importance of locally-grown, eco-friendly food, hydroponics has the power to help Connecticut build a more sustainable and resilient food system.