Area 2 Farms

This interview details Area 2 Farms, an indoor farming company based in the United States. --> This interview details Area 2 Farms, an indoor farming company based in Washington DC, United States.

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What is the origin story of Area 2 Farms?

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I wanted to use my more than 15 years of experience in the industry to create something that returned value to the farmer, and that had a direct connection to the people we grow for.  Did you know farmers receive less than $0.14 of every dollar their crops are sold for?  I used to sell to grocery butterhead lettuce for $1.75 and it cost me about $1.50 to grow, then the store would sell that lettuce for $4.00.

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It’s not historically novel for farmers to sell directly to their communities.  CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) have been around for a long time but integrating that with hyper-local organic vertical farming and providing an offering beyond leafy greens is definitely new, and super exciting! Area 2 Farms is a profitable method for farmers.  It’s based on growing the right amount, combining cost-effective innovative robotics, eliminating crop waste, and offering a complete basket of crops.

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‍What are some of the biggest challenges facing your team in the future?

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Our vision of moving the farm, and closing the gap between communities and their food sources, resonates broadly with people, and community leaders. The next challenge we’re addressing is how to incorporate our farms into urban planning.  Area 2 Farms are a new form of infrastructure for the 21st century, and there is an incredible opportunity to repurpose the 20th-century infrastructure like gas stations, parking lots, and movie theaters into farms that directly serve their communities. As we work with community leaders to reimagine how their cities will transform we’re finding all sorts of possibilities to drive economic growth.

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What is unique about Area 2 Farms compared to competitors?

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First and foremost we’re farmer-led.  We design, build and operate farms for farmers by farmers.  We grow everything organically in soil, which in the indoor sector of agriculture is incredibly rare, and we also engage customers with a complete market basket directly.  The real value is growing beyond leafy greens and herbs.  I’m really proud of our work in carrots, onions, radishes, and turnips.  Soon we’ll have potatoes!

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How do you measure the impact of your company so far? (Revenue, Employees, Customer Quantity, Production Volume) etc?

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We’re a certified B corporation so our impact on our community, employees, and environment is something we focus on.   We are also very focused on the profitability of our farms, and proudly so, because if our farms are not financially sustainable then we won’t be able to have any impact.  One of our favorite ways to measure the impact we have on our community is by connecting with customers at our farm tours.  We are always packed, and it’s so rewarding to hear their feedback on our products.

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What have you learned that you wish you knew when you started the company?

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If I knew how well-received Area 2 Farms would be, I would have started it sooner! Our local community has been incredibly supportive.  They come by and say hi, they send notes of appreciation, and there is nothing better than that.

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How can people connect with you or learn more about Area 2 Farms?

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We’re building a whole network of Area 2 Farms all over the place, and looking for existing farmers and aspiring farmers to work with us in planting them around the country.  So just reach out to hello@area2farms.com if you want to be an Area 2 Farmer, and to learn more about our approach.

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