Randy McKillop, chief marketing officer and contract grower for Envista Farms, shows Governor Tom Wolf and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding the acquponically-grown basil he grew during the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. A warehouse in Harrisburg is the last place you would expect to find a farm, but that's where you will find new associate member Envista Farms of Harrisburg. The company operates an urban farm sustainably growing tilapia, herbs and leafy greens at 1003 Maclay Street in Harrisburg. In addition, Envista Farms has sites in Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, and is developing sites in Berks, Franklin and Philadelphia counties as well as surrounding states New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.
Envista Farms opened its Harrisburg farm just in time for the 100th Anniversary Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. The company's basil plants are grown through Aquaponics, a method of farming that combines aquaculture (raising fish in a controlled environment) and hydroponics (growing plants in water).
Kevin Doyle, founder of Envista Farms, LLC and Randy McKillop, owner and contract grower for Envista Farms, met a year ago and found that they had similar goals to develop urban farms in warehouse locations. Mr. Doyle has a strong background in commercial real estate finance, so the concept was easy to develop.
"Our produce and fish are grown in a controlled environment," says Doyle, president of Envista Farms. "The density is greater than a traditional farm, so it requires less labor and less water, thus its environmental footprint is less. Ninety-five percent of the water is recycled, so it's great for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed."
With the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's assistance, Envista Farms of Harrisburg leased the 9,000 square foot Maclay Street warehouse at a competitive price due to its extended vacancy. They developed the facility within a month so that it could be showcased during the farm show, open to tour groups and urban farmers.
There are currently 5,400 square feet of grow beds in the warehouse with each bed sized approximately 16 x 40. LED grow lights are strategically positioned above the grow beds to provide the necessary light for optimum growth. The company's first crop is basil, but plans are underway to grow lettuce, mint and other leafy greens. Many products that can be grown in an urban farm environment which include tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, spices and strawberries.
Large 300-gallon tanks hold tilapia at various stages of growth. Each tank holds approximately 300 pounds of fish, which are fed a natural fish meal, supplemented with nutrients. The fish waste goes through a filtration system, which turns it into nutrients necessary for the plants. The water, filled with fish nutrients, is pumped into the growing beds to feed the plants. In the closed cycle system, the plants clean the water and it is recycled and returned to the fish.
According to McKillop there are several markets for the tilapia. Asian community markets, grocery stores and processors are all interested in the fish. Asian buyers will purchase the live tilapia at 1 ¼ pounds. Grocery stores buy fin fish that are 1 ¼ to 2 pounds and processors buy fish that are more than two pounds. Envista Farms doesn't process the fish, instead they work with a local company who picks up the fish live and loads them into large tankers for transportation to a processing facility.
"We are growing food and fish in a 100 percent controlled environment, so there's virtually no loss," Doyle says.
McKillop, who operates the Harrisburg urban farm with three other employees, says urban farms don't take a tremendous amount of manpower. They regularly check the water quality, feed the fish, harvest and replant.
As consumers demand locally grown products, Doyle and McKillop see urban farms as a great solution for retailers. Their products can be harvested in the morning and stocked on a store shelf by lunch.
"This is where farming is going," McKillop says. "We want to go into the food deserts and provide locally grown, fresh produce to consumers."
"Urban farming brings food back to the population centers," Doyle relays.
Envista Farms is looking to establish relationships with retailers who want to buy their products and for independent growers to start urban farms in their communities. The company provides the expertise to help them obtain the financing, warehouse space, equipment and markets the product to buyers, while the contract grower owns and operates the business. For more information on Envista Farms visit the website at www.envistafarms.com; Facebook page at www.facebook.com/envistafarms; twitter: @envista_farms or call 717-232-5445.
Envista Farms opened its Harrisburg farm just in time for the 100th Anniversary Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. The company's basil plants are grown through Aquaponics, a method of farming that combines aquaculture (raising fish in a controlled environment) and hydroponics (growing plants in water).
Kevin Doyle, founder of Envista Farms, LLC and Randy McKillop, owner and contract grower for Envista Farms, met a year ago and found that they had similar goals to develop urban farms in warehouse locations. Mr. Doyle has a strong background in commercial real estate finance, so the concept was easy to develop.
"Our produce and fish are grown in a controlled environment," says Doyle, president of Envista Farms. "The density is greater than a traditional farm, so it requires less labor and less water, thus its environmental footprint is less. Ninety-five percent of the water is recycled, so it's great for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed."
With the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's assistance, Envista Farms of Harrisburg leased the 9,000 square foot Maclay Street warehouse at a competitive price due to its extended vacancy. They developed the facility within a month so that it could be showcased during the farm show, open to tour groups and urban farmers.
There are currently 5,400 square feet of grow beds in the warehouse with each bed sized approximately 16 x 40. LED grow lights are strategically positioned above the grow beds to provide the necessary light for optimum growth. The company's first crop is basil, but plans are underway to grow lettuce, mint and other leafy greens. Many products that can be grown in an urban farm environment which include tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, spices and strawberries.
Large 300-gallon tanks hold tilapia at various stages of growth. Each tank holds approximately 300 pounds of fish, which are fed a natural fish meal, supplemented with nutrients. The fish waste goes through a filtration system, which turns it into nutrients necessary for the plants. The water, filled with fish nutrients, is pumped into the growing beds to feed the plants. In the closed cycle system, the plants clean the water and it is recycled and returned to the fish.
According to McKillop there are several markets for the tilapia. Asian community markets, grocery stores and processors are all interested in the fish. Asian buyers will purchase the live tilapia at 1 ¼ pounds. Grocery stores buy fin fish that are 1 ¼ to 2 pounds and processors buy fish that are more than two pounds. Envista Farms doesn't process the fish, instead they work with a local company who picks up the fish live and loads them into large tankers for transportation to a processing facility.
"We are growing food and fish in a 100 percent controlled environment, so there's virtually no loss," Doyle says.
McKillop, who operates the Harrisburg urban farm with three other employees, says urban farms don't take a tremendous amount of manpower. They regularly check the water quality, feed the fish, harvest and replant.
As consumers demand locally grown products, Doyle and McKillop see urban farms as a great solution for retailers. Their products can be harvested in the morning and stocked on a store shelf by lunch.
"This is where farming is going," McKillop says. "We want to go into the food deserts and provide locally grown, fresh produce to consumers."
"Urban farming brings food back to the population centers," Doyle relays.
Envista Farms is looking to establish relationships with retailers who want to buy their products and for independent growers to start urban farms in their communities. The company provides the expertise to help them obtain the financing, warehouse space, equipment and markets the product to buyers, while the contract grower owns and operates the business. For more information on Envista Farms visit the website at www.envistafarms.com; Facebook page at www.facebook.com/envistafarms; twitter: @envista_farms or call 717-232-5445.
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