For 15 years, residents of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood had to travel over 30 minutes to buy fresh vegetables. That changed this week with the opening of SkyGreen Farms — the world's largest urban vertical farm.
The 100,000-square-foot facility, built in a converted warehouse, produces 2 million pounds of leafy greens, tomatoes, strawberries, and herbs annually using 95% less water than traditional farming and zero pesticides.
But what makes SkyGreen truly special is its community-first model: 50% of produce is sold at subsidized prices to local residents, 30% goes to area schools and food banks, and the remaining 20% is sold to restaurants to fund operations.
'I can walk five minutes and buy fresh kale for my kids,' said resident Tamika Williams, a mother of three. 'That was impossible before.'
The farm also created 150 full-time jobs, prioritizing local hires. 'We're not just growing food,' said founder Marcus Johnson. 'We're growing community.'