News + Events
City Economic Summit Addresses "Food 2.0"
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a nonprofit research and strategy organization that works to drive economic prosperity in America's inner cities through private-sector investment, identified "Food 2.0" as one of the main topics at its Inner City Economic Summit held in Chicago October 3 and 4, 2011. UrbanPonics was a supporting partner and promoter of the summit.
The group notes the "massive potential" of the "urban food cluster"—the localized production and distribution of food in an urban setting—to drive job creation and local wealth. "Food 2.0: Cultivate and Nourish a Growing Industry," offered an opportunity for participants to discuss ways to leverage urban assets such as high population density and a ready workforce to cultivate jobs and encourage entrepreneurship among inner-city residents, capitalizing on rising demand for locally produced, healthy food options and trends such as specialty food production and urban farms.
Read about what New York's Mayor Bloomberg is doing to encourage these trends through legislation, and the important role UrbanPonics can play in realizing the potential of the food cluster, on the ICIC blog.
UrbanPonics Sees Its First Sales at
Whole Foods Naperville Sunday Markets
UrbanPonics made its first official retail sales this summer at Whole Foods Naperville as a participant in Sunday Markets at Whole Foods. The monthly farmers market offers shoppers an opportunity to meet local producers of quality foods, learn more about their products, and give them a try! Kids' activities and live music add to the festival atmosphere of the open-air market.
Participating in Sunday Markets at Whole Foods gave UrbanPonics an opportunity to introduce some of its quality produce, such as Bibb lettuce and fresh basil, to the public, while laying the foundation to build a relationship with the national retailer whose brand is synonymous with healthy, natural food.
"Being at the market brought us face to face with our customers for the first time," said Bral Spight, UrbanPonics president and CEO, following the company's first Sunday at Whole Foods. "We can't wait to go back. We're seeing first hand the strong demand for the quality product we're offering, and there's clear support for the business model through which we're producing it."
Sunday Markets at Whole Foods Naperville run one Sunday per month, July through October.
UrbanPonics Endorsed by Get Fresh Produce
Get Fresh Produce, Inc., a supporter of the "Go Green" movement and sustainable farming, has formally recognized Bral Spright, Lee Reid, and UrbanPonics, noting that they "have portrayed a great deal of dedication and commitment in hydroponic farming, in the vision of preserving our soil," and stating that "The Get Fresh Produce, Inc. Team recognizes the value of hydroponic farming and fully support UrbanPonics' Business Philosophies."
Get Fresh Produce built the first green fresh produce distribution facility in the Chicagoland area and is committed to "actively supporting the purchase and distribution of all vegetables grown by UrbanPonics." Get Fresh operates out of an 83,000-square-foot facility in suburban Bartlett, Illinois, with a distribution range servicing a 150-mile radius of Chicago.