Given that it is National Small Business Week, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to brag about our freight farmers. One of our main goals here at Freight Farms is to provide individuals with the infrastructure they need to start growing their own food [business]. Read on to get a better idea of what our freight farmers are up to!

Ryan Sweeney Localize, LLC. Edina, Minnesota

Ryan is THE original freight farmer, operating just outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is celebrating his one-year anniversary with the Leafy Green Machine this month - congrats Ryan! His business, Localize, grows fresh basil year-round - even through this past harsh winter when temperatures were dropping to 20 below. Producing local greens in that weather is pretty much unheard of in Minnesota, which is exactly why you can find this basil in four co-op food grocery stores (soon to be five in June)! Ryan says that sales have been increasing every month, and that he’s planning to purchase another LGM later this year in order to scale up to meet demand. The best part? He’s started to develop strong brand recognition and loyalty with his customers. Way to grow, Ryan!

Shawn & Connie Cooney Corner Stalk Boston, Massachusetts

Shawn and Connie started their journey with Freight Farms back in October 2013, and are now the owners of four (soon to be five) Leafy Green Machines. Their business, Corner Stalk, is located right in the city of Boston and produces a large volume of basil, which they are selling to a local wholesaler. Farming is a completely new venture for the two of them, but you would never know it! They’ve been at the forefront of the urban farming movement in the city, and are eager to share their experiences- so check out the Corner Stalk Blog!

Mitch Hagney and Pat Condon Local Sprout San Antonio, Texas

Local Sprout, operating out of San Antonio, is on a mission to provide the city with healthy and sustainably grown produce year-round. Pat Condon and Mitch Hagney operate their LGM out of a warehouse in the heart of the city. They’ve been selling to two local juice bars, who have been incredibly eager to get their hands on fresh locally-grown produce.  There is a high demand for fresh greens in that region, which is why they’re beginning to think about ways to scale up and make the business more profitable.Stay on top of their progress by visiting their website: Local Sprout.

What to expect in the coming months?

By July there will be more than 20 operating freight farms across North America. That’s a whole lot of fresh produce! Each one of these locations represents individuals that are motivated to start a business that will make a difference in the world. We can’t wait to see the impact they will all have on their local food economies and beyond!

Below are just some of the new small businesses that will be sprouting in the coming months:

• Spring Ups : Brooklyn, New York

• Portside Produce: Charlestown, Massachusetts

• Lakeview Farms: Webster, Massachusetts

• Urban Future: St. Louis, Missouri

• The Container Yard: Los Angeles, California