Been to the grocery store lately? Odds are you have, which means it would have been impossible to miss the expensively priced produce on the shelf, half-rotten, waiting for somebody to rescue it from its otherwise inevitable final resting place - the dreaded dumpster out the back. You're not alone. Enter a ready-made solution - shipping container farms.
How we gather and consume food has changed dramatically in recent times.
But we're in store for another revolution.
Shipping container farms, and urban agriculture more generally, is revolutionizing how we access and consume food. Traditional farming methods are no longer the only option for feeding growing urban populations. Container farms are proving to be a revolutionary method that is a scalable means to grow food for individuals, businesses, and communities looking to grow in unconventional spaces.
It also means (fingers crossed) over-priced, poor quality, flavorless produce is a thing of the past.
From downtown rooftops to parking lots, shipping container farms are changing the way we think about farming, particularly in urban areas.
In this post, we'll explore how container farms are revolutionizing urban agriculture and making it possible to grow high-quality, fresh produce year-round. We'll also discuss why these container farms are scalable, easy to implement, and profitable in the long term. In our post, we touch on the following major talking points:
If you're curious about the future of agriculture or considering starting a farm in either an urban area, or even potentially somewhere rural, this article is for you.
What is a Shipping Container Farm?
Well, we're glad you asked.
A shipping container farm is a fully operational farm built inside a standard freight container that have previously been used for shipping goods, or are built to ship goods but have never been used for that purpose.
Utilizing vertical or hydroponic farming methods (or, frankly, any other farming method like aeroponics or aquaponics), these farms are able to maximize space and (very importantly) control environmental factors such as light, humidity, and temperature to create ideal growing conditions.
This leads to probably the greatest advantage of shipping container farming - shipping container farms can produce fresh, high-quality crops all year long, no matter the season and no matter the location.
Live in the dry, searing heat of Arizona? No problem. Find yourself up in the Great White North in the Northwest Territories of Canada? Well, you can grow year-round as well (despite a frigid average low in Yellowknife in January at -26° celsius).
To make things even more advantageous, the small spaces of container farms means that they are typically outfitted with advanced agricultural technology that automates many of the farming processes, including irrigation and lighting, making them extremely easy to manage. The cost for implementing this type of technology is generally not prohibitively expensive considering the low square footage of container farms. This technology can also empower growers to monitor and adjust growing conditions remotely via smartphone or computer apps (depending on the setup).
Whether you plan to grow leafy greens, herbs, or even more profit-driven varieties like strawberries, a container farm makes it possible to grow a variety of crops efficiently and sustainably in any location across the planet.
Why Are These Farms Scalable and Easy to Implement?
One of the most appealing aspects of shipping container farms is their scalability.
Unlike traditional farming, which requires huge tracts of land, container farms offer a modular solution that can grow as you grow. Starting with one container to test the waters is as easy as starting with fifty. This allows folks like you to start small and expand as demand or available resources increase.
The modular design also means you can configure your layout to suit your available space, whether it's indoors, outdoors, on a rooftop, underground, or anywhere else in-between.
For larger operations, scaling up is as simple as adding more containers. And the best part is that these containers can be stacked vertically. This means even in areas with limited space, you can continue to grow your operation.
To put this into perspective, the minimum square footage required for a Just Vertical container farm is 160 square feet. For the more visually inclined, this is roughly half the size of an average 1 car garage.
Why scalability of container farms is amazing:
- Start Small: You can begin with just one container and expand as your needs grow.
- Adaptable: These farms can be placed in a variety of locations, from urban spaces to rural areas.
- Stackable: Maximize vertical space by stacking containers on top of each other.
In terms of implementation, container farms are designed to be plug-and-play, which significantly reduces setup time.
Many companies, including Just Vertical, offer turnkey solutions that come fully equipped with everything you need to start growing. These pre-built container farms include all the necessary systems for irrigation, lighting, and environmental control, making it easy to get started with minimal fuss.
The Benefits of Container Farms for Urban Agriculture
Take a look outside. If you're in a large urban center (like New York, Chicago, LA, Toronto etc), you'll notice one thing you don't have around is space.
Enter one of the biggest challenges in urban farming - the lack of space.
With farming in a container, however, this issue is solved. Container farms allow growers to farm in areas that were previously unavailable or unsuitable for traditional agriculture. This includes rooftops, parking lots, and even indoor spaces.
By bringing farming into urban centers, shipping container farms help reduce food miles---the distance food has to travel to reach consumers---while also delivering fresher, more flavorful produce to local markets. One taste of a basil leaf freshly picked tells you all you need to know about the benefits of urban farming.
In cities, where land is scarce and expensive, the small footprint of a farm within a shipping can makes it an attractive option for urban farmers. Not only does this reduce the environmental impact of long-distance food transport, but it also alleviates food insecurity in urban areas by making fresh produce more accessible for folks who need it most.
Along that same line of thought, it also significantly reduces the shipping cost of moving produce, passing those final savings to the end consumer (you!).
How Container Farms Benefit All Of Us:
- Use of Limited Space: Shipping container farms are ideal for cities where land is scarce. They can be placed on rooftops, in parking lots, or even indoors.
- Year-Round Growing: Since container farms can control environmental factors like temperature and lighting, they allow for year-round growing, regardless of outdoor weather conditions.
- Reducing Food Miles: By growing food directly in urban areas, container farms reduce the need for long transportation routes (like South America to North America, for example), ensuring fresher produce.
- Increasing Access to Fresh Food: Container farms can be placed in food deserts---urban areas with limited access to fresh food---helping alleviate food insecurity.
- Sustainability: Container farms use water and energy more efficiently than traditional farms, contributing to a more sustainable agricultural system.
Why ContainerFarms Help with Food Insecurity:
- Local Food Production: Container farms can be placed directly in urban areas, bringing food closer to where people live.
- Year-Round Availability: These farms can grow crops in any season, ensuring a constant food supply.
- Affordable Fresh Produce: By reducing transportation and storage costs, container farms can offer fresher food at more affordable prices.
- Resilience to Climate Change: Container farms are climate-controlled, making them less vulnerable to extreme weather conditions that can impact traditional farms.
Top Shipping Container Farm Companies
As the urban agricultural scene continues to develop and grow, several companies have seized the opportunity to provide an excellent product that meets the needs of the market (figuratively and literally). Here are our top three urban agricultural container farm suppliers:
- Freight Farms -- Freight Farms is one of the pioneers in the shipping container farm industry. Their container farms are fully automated, using hydroponic systems to grow crops efficiently in any environment. Their farms are ideal for urban spaces, allowing growers to scale as needed.
- Growcer -- Growcer specializes in empowering communities by offering turnkey shipping container farms designed for year-round use. Their focus on sustainability and community-based farming makes them a popular choice for organizations looking to combat food insecurity.
- Just Vertical -- As a leader in vertical farming solutions, Just Vertical offers shipping container farms designed for scalability and ease of use. Our full-service solutions are perfect for both individuals and organizations looking to grow fresh produce in urban environments. Whether you're starting small or planning a large-scale operation, we've got you covered.
(Want to see more companies revolutionizing urban agriculture - look no further my friend)
FAQs About Shipping Container Farms
Q: Can shipping container farms operate year-round?
A: Yes, because they control the internal environment, shipping container farms can operate year-round, producing fresh crops regardless of external weather conditions.
Q: What crops can be grown in a shipping container farm?
A: Shipping container farms can grow a variety of crops, including leafy greens, herbs, and even certain fruits like strawberries. The controlled environment allows for a wide range of crops to thrive.
Q: How much does it cost to start a shipping container farm?
A: Costs can vary, but shipping container farms typically start in the range of $80,000 to $150,000, depending on the size, equipment, and features included. However, because they are scalable, you can start small and expand over time. You can find a handy ROI calculator here that we developed to help you estimate your payback period and return on your garden over time.
Q: How much space does a shipping container farm require?
A: A standard 40-foot shipping container farm requires roughly 320 square feet of space, but keep in mind that containers can be stacked or placed in unconventional spaces like rooftops, further minimizing their footprint.
Wrapping It Up
Shipping container farms are not just a trend---they are the future of urban agriculture. These farms allow growers to cultivate fresh produce in previously inaccessible areas, helping to alleviate food insecurity, reduce food miles, and create more sustainable farming practices. Whether you're an individual looking to start a small-scale operation or an organization interested in creating a large urban farm, shipping container farms provide a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable solution.
Looking to revolutionize your space? Reach out to Just Vertical for more information on how you can start your shipping container farm today.