Orange County Register: Vertical farm: Farmer takes crops to new heights
By filling a tall order through its hydroponic farming method, Alegria Fresh is delivering what it says is healthier and tastier produce on a modest lot in Laguna Canyon.
LAGUNA BEACH – In a quarter-acre lot tucked into Laguna Canyon, Erik Cutter is feeding his neighbors food he says is fresher, healthier and safer than anything else available in Southern California.
Alegria Fresh is the first hydroponic, vertical farm on the West Coast, and Cutter is hoping to become a model for high-yield, resource-efficient growing. The farm – 150 7-foot-tall towers that hold more than 8,000 plants – produces everything from arugula to zucchini, and in only 1,200 square feet. Each plant grows in reusable coconut fiber instead of soil, and each pot is linked to an automatic watering system. The result is about 90 percent less water used and 10 times more food yielded than a conventional farm. ...
... The towers allow a farm to pop up in virtually any size space, and the hydroponics help ensure quality. With no soil, soil-borne diseases and toxins are out of the picture. Plants are fed automatically with a nutrient-rich solution that can be adjusted to improve health and sweetness. ...
... The power of food, however, diminishes greatly in the time it takes to travel from farm to table, he said. Alegria Fresh aims to get its produce into customers' hands within two hours of harvest. After harvesting, drivers on a produce route deliver vegetable bouquets to subscribers' homes, starting at $20 each week. Each bouquet can be made into about five salads. ...
