JEA, Salvation Army working toward hydroponic container farm to help feed the community

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Salvation Army is working with JEA to bring an indoor food production facility, or a hydroponic container farm, to Downtown Jacksonville.

Maj. Keath Biggers, Salvation Army of Northeast Florida Area Commander, said this will go into the three-meals-a-day ministry that they already provide for their participants.

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“It’s something that’s innovative and something that’s not familiar with the Salvation Army, not only in the state of Florida but nationally this would be something new to the Salvation Army,” Biggers said.

The Salvation Army’s food pantry has helped Angela Johnson for a year. She said this new project will help meet the needs of those who come to the pantry.

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“I thank God what they’re doing here, it’s a blessing from the Lord,” Johnson said.

At the Towers Center of Hope Salvation Army location, those who come to the food pantry could soon be receiving their produce from a hydroponic container farm.

JEA is working with the Salvation Army and the Electric Power Research Institute to determine the best way to provide electric and water service needs for the container.

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We received a statement from JEA on Monday with more information about the project:

“JEA is participating in an EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) project on an indoor food production facility that will be located at the Salvation Army downtown. Freight Farms is the manufacturer of the container. We are currently working with the Salvation Army and EPRI to determine the best way to provide the electric and water services needed for the container. We do not have any firm timeline of the project at this time as we are still working on location as well as services to the container.

“The objective of the project is to expand utilities knowledge of IFP (Indoor Food Production) production and process technologies, potential societal and local impacts, and the potential energy, water and waste water impacts. Data collected for this project is intended to inform electric load planning, water impacts, technological innovation and sustainable considerations around IFP’s.”

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“We’re really excited,” said Biggers. “We think it will be a reality hopefully in the near future, and then they provide a valuable resource to the community and fresh produce.”

Biggers said this project is still in the beginning stages and needs approval.

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