San Antonio
AI Assisted Icon
Published on June 10, 2024
San Antonio Unveils World's Largest Indoor Organic Farm, Promising Sustainable Growth and Local JobsSource: Google Street View

The city of San Antonio is now home to what Soli Organic claims is the "world's largest indoor organic farm." The recent unveiling took place at Brooks, the site of the former Brooks Air Force Base, now a mixed-use community. The facility spans 140,000 square feet and boasts a production area with six vertical layers of growing capacity, allowing for a diverse range of organic produce, according to the San Antonio Report.

Amidst concerns of sustainability and efficiency, Soli Organic's San Antonio vertical farm operates with a significant reduction in resource utilization. "The system also uses 90% less water, crop for crop, than traditional outdoor farming," said Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic, in a statement highlighted by the San Antonio Report. The farm is designed to grow about an acre's worth of produce which would normally take up 100 acres of land. The facility integrates automated systems, precision organic fertigation, and advanced lighting technologies to maximize output while minimizing the farm's footprint.

Focused on the local impact, the newly established farm brings both job opportunities and fresh produce to the San Antonio community. More than 100 job positions, many of which are high-wage technical roles in horticulture and manufacturing, are being created. This development not only promotes local growth but also serves the broader South Texas region's economic vitality, according to Cision's press release.

With its proximity to grocers such as H-E-B, Walmart, Tom Thumb, and Whole Foods, the implications for San Antonio's food logistics are profound. "Texas is already a primary sourcing point for the national chains for nearly 300 different fresh produce commodities," said Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of Texas International Produce Association, according to the San Antonio Report. Soli Organic, underlining the strategic nature of Texas for production and distribution, benefits from reduced shipping times and minimal product spoilage.

Soli Organic is not only aiming to revolutionize the way food is grown but also how it reaches tables across the nation. Boasting a distribution network including more than 20,000 stores nationwide, the company is demonstrating its potential to change the agricultural landscape. "In today's economy, consumers want value, and that's what our new San Antonio facility is designed to deliver," Matt Ryan also conveyed to Cision. With plans to expand its operations into the Northeast, the company is actively scouting new locations to continue its growth.