Located within the West Berks Street Warehouse of Philabundance

PHILADELPHIA, PA – DATE 01/21/2020 – First Light Project today announced the opening of their pilot for a hydroponic vertical farm located at the W. Berks Street warehouse location of the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, Philabundance.

The pilot farm, which is now in production, is growing leafy greens, herbs and microgreens. These greens are grown using hydroponic technology in a 5-tier vertical racking system that supplies nutrient-rich water to the plants roots. High efficiency LED lights mimic optimal sunlight conditions up to-18 hours a day.

The 312 sq.ft. Pilot Farm is the precursor for First Light Project’s full-scale indoor hydroponic farm. The pilot farm is growing:

• 9 varieties of lettuce
• 2 varieties of Arugula
• Varieties of Mustard Greens, Asian Greens, Kale and Swiss Chard
• Genovese Basil
• Mild & Spicy Microgreens

Crop cycles vary from 12-17 days for Microgreens, 31 days for lettuce and up to 45 days for Basil. Since this type of agriculture is not dependent on seasons, weather cycles, soil or temperature conditions the farm can germinate, grow and harvest on a continual basis.

Over the next 6 months the pilot will grow continuous small batches of leafy greens, microgreens and herbs to test for growth rate, yield, flavor and visual appeal. This testing enables First Light Project Farm to determine which optimal attributes of taste, size, and texture appeal to our customer base.

Our host for the farm pilot is Philabundance who serves 90,000 people each week, 30 percent of whom are children and 16 percent of whom are seniors. A portion of the food grown by First Light Project Farm will be available to the community through Philabundance and its network of 400 member organizations. First Light Project Farm is one of a number of innovative community partners working with Philabundance to end hunger for good.

For more information contact Lois Davidson, Co-Managing Director, First Light Project, at

ldavidson@firstlightproject.org, https://www.firstlightproject.org.

First Light Project is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization as defined under the Internal Revenue Service code section 501(c)(3). ID: 46-2996023. Official registration and financial information of First Light Project may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling 1-800-732-0999 within Pennsylvania. Registration does not imply endorsement.

 

About First Light Project Farm

First Light Project Farm is a program designed to grow food and create jobs in Philadelphia neighborhoods that lack adequate access to both. The Farm was conceived and created by First Light Project, an established 501c3 non-profit, whose mission is to provide resilient and sustainable food, water, and energy solutions to under-served communities and communities at risk. The first full-scale farm is currently in development and is slated for construction in mid-year 2020.

 

About Philabundance

Philabundance is the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization. For 35 years, it has focused on providing emergency food to those in need. In 2018, it relieved hunger by distributing more than 26 million pounds of food through a network of 350 member agencies. In 2019, it began partnerships with critical services providers, offering food coupled with other services to end hunger for good. Philabundance serves more than 90,000 people each week, 30 percent of whom are children, 16 percent of whom are seniors, and other clients include college students, single parents and the working class. Give now or learn more at Philabundance.org.