The future of farming is here using a new model of sustainable urban agriculture through a partnership with FarmBox Foods, CommonSpirit Health, and Focus Points Family Resource Center through its Huerta Urbana program, bringing fresh produce directly into the community it serves. 

A New Model for Urban Food Production 

Located on the National Western Center campus, a vertical hydroponic FarmBox is redefining what local food production can look like. Designed to operate year-round, this innovative modular system helps combat food insecurity by growing fresh produce right in the heart of the community. 

Unlike traditional farming, hydroponic systems make smarter use of space, require far less water, and thrive in compact urban settings, offering a powerful solution to food access challenges in food deserts. 

But the FarmBox is more than a food-growing container. It represents a scalable, replicable model for cities everywhere, meeting communities where they are and reimagining how fresh food can be grown and shared locally. 

Partnership Rooted in Community Health 

This initiative thrives through collaboration. 

Led by CommonSpirit Health, the project supports Focus Points’ Huerta Urbana program to improve community health outcomes using FarmBox Foods technology. Together, these partners view food access not as a temporary fix, but as a long-term investment in community well-being. 

Huerta Urbana, a program of Focus Points, brings deep roots within the 80216 neighborhoods and champions a culturally responsive approach to food systems, ensuring that the produce aligns with community preferences. Their weekly pay-what-you-can farmers market increases food access for residents of Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, and surrounding areas. 

Focus Points Family Resource Center strengthens this work through engagement and education by connecting families to nutritious food resources while advancing stability and health across the GES neighborhoods. As the community operator of the FarmBox, Focus Points oversees its day-to-day management through its Huerta Urbana program. 

Meanwhile, FarmBox Foods provides the technology and infrastructure that make year-round, sustainable urban farming possible. A mission that focuses on connecting communities to locally grown, sustainably sourced produce. By providing tools and education, FarmBox empowers people to grow food in any climate, helping to end food inequality with eco-friendly, innovative farming solutions. 

The National Western Center contributes essential space and support, fostering collaboration, learning, and community-driven innovation through its partnership with Focus Points and Huerta Urbana in operating and maintaining the FarmBox. 

Why This Work Matters for 80216 

The 80216 ZIP code has been identified as one of the nation’s largest food deserts, where many families struggle to access affordable, healthy food. 

Projects like the FarmBox at the National Western Center are helping to change that narrative by expanding food availability, strengthening local food systems, and building community resilience. 

Beyond providing fresh produce, this initiative advances broader goals of food equity, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment. It demonstrates how underutilized urban spaces can be transformed into productive, life-sustaining resources that benefit both people and the planet. 

The FarmBox partnership at the National Western Center is more than a local project, it is a blueprint for how cities everywhere can rethink food access through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. 

By working together, FarmBox Foods, CommonSpirit Health, and Focus Points Family Resource Center’s Huerta Urbana program are doing more than growing vegetables, they’re planting the seeds for a more equitable, resilient, and nourishing future for the GES community and beyond. 

The post Growing Access: How FarmBox Foods Is Advancing Food Equity in Food Deserts appeared first on Hydroponic Container Farms and Mushroom Farms - FarmBox Foods.

Vegetables that are grown locally and consumed shortly after harvesting retain more of their nutritional content compared to those that are transported over long distances (A head of lettuce travels an average of 2,000 miles before it arrives on plates in the U.S.). Hyperlocal growing means consumers receive fresher produce with higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds. The reduction in time between harvest and consumption helps to preserve the taste and texture of the vegetables, enhancing the overall eating experience.

Another significant benefit is the environmental impact. Growing vegetables near the consumer reduces the need for long-distance transportation, which in turn decreases greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint associated with food distribution. This localized approach minimizes the use of fossil fuels and reduces the pollution associated with refrigeration and packaging necessary for long-haul transport. Additionally, local farming practices, especially those conducted in low-water-usage, small-footprint hydroponic container farms, often employ more sustainable and eco-friendly methods, which can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and the health of local ecosystems.

Economic advantages also play a crucial role in the argument for local vegetable production. Supporting local farmers boosts the local economy by keeping money within the community and creating jobs. This can lead to more resilient and self-sufficient local economies, where consumers have a direct relationship with the producers. This relationship can foster a sense of community and trust, as consumers can learn more about where their food comes from and how it is grown, often leading to higher standards and more ethical farming practices.

AND growing vegetables near the consumer promotes food security and resilience. Local food systems are less vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, such as those caused by natural disasters, political instability, or pandemics. By decentralizing food production, communities can ensure a more reliable supply of fresh vegetables. This local focus also encourages urban and peri-urban agriculture, which can utilize otherwise underused spaces like rooftops, vacant lots, and community gardens, further contributing to food availability and community engagement in sustainable practices.

The post How Growing Veggies Near the Consumer Benefits Everyone appeared first on Hydroponic Container Farms and Mushroom Farms - FarmBox Foods.

The following list is not meant to be all-encompassing, but rather provide a snapshot of the types of crops that we and our customers have focused on, like yellow onions, collard greens, kale, a range of different micro greens, bok choy, red leaf beet and watercress. Of course, we’re always experimenting and adding to the list.

Peppers

• • Jalapeno- Jefe, Jalafuego
  • Habanero- Helios, Paper Lantern
  • Serrano- Altiplano
  • Sweet Pepper- Lunch Box
  • Cayenne- Red Flame
  • Ghost peppers

Tomatoes

• • Slicer- Mountain Fresh
  • Grape- Verona
  • Cherry- Sakura

Lettuces

• • Romaine
  • Muir
  • Rex
  • Magenta
  • Rouxai
  • Red Butterhead
  • Green Butterhead
  • Green Star
  • Ezflor
  • Grazion
  • Red Oak
  • Tropicana
  • Frisee

Herbs

• • Cilantro
  • Parsley
  • Chives
  • Oregano
  • Prospera Basil
  • Genovese Basil
  • Purple Basil
  • Spicy Bush Basil
  • Dill
  • Lavender
  • Purslane
  • Mint

Greens

• • Rainbow Chard
  • Collard Greens
  • Red Vein Sorrel
  • Arugula
  • Dandelion
  • Golden Frills
  • Kale
  • Tatsoi
  • Red Kingdom
  • Spinach- Lizard, Space

Flowers

• • Viola
  • Marigold
  • Nasturtium

Cucumbers

• • Pickler- Excelsior

Beans

• • Bush Beans

Starters

• • Pumpkin- Jack O’Lantern
  • Sunflower- Giant, Skyscraper, Mixed Colors
  • Marigold- Crackerjack, French Double Dwarf

The post What Types of Plants Grow in a Vertical Hydroponic Farm? appeared first on Hydroponic Container Farms and Mushroom Farms - FarmBox Foods.