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FarmTECH

FarmTECH is 20 acre district farming program run by the Student Nutrition Department at MHUSD.   Both the 17 acre production farm and 3 acre educational experience are located at Ann Sobrato High School.  FarmTECH was founded around the belief that a school district can grow its own produce using environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, educate our students on agriculture, ecology and ag.tech., and work within the community to celebrate local produce.  This seamless integration of the farm into our menus allow for seasonal produce planning, real time farm education in our cafeterias, and control over our food waste.  The FarmTECH program manages not only our district farming, but operates two of the most advanced hydroponic vertical container farms in the world at Live Oak and Ann Sobrato High Schools(see below).  FarmTECH partners with our schools, including an amazing 14,500sq.ft. farm at San Martin Gwinn and the school gardens at PA Walsh and El Toro Elementary Schools.

 

Our 2 Freight Farms currently produce all of our district spring mix lettuce used at all schools.  These 40ft shipping containers feature a cloud based, vertical hydroponic, grow system.  They use less than 5 gallons of water per day growing the equivalent of 2.5 acres of spring mix.  We produce over 400lbs of spring mix weekly.  The Freight Farm system allows us to control the lights, humidity, air circulation, temperature, and nutrient dosing from anywhere in the world.  Want to know more?  Check out our case study. 

The 1/3 of an acre farm is an educational oasis for students at San Martin Gwinn.  Here assorted fruit trees thrive and grape vines grow vigorously.   Students have access to over 25 raised planter beds to grow in.  Thoughtful pathways provide access to all students.  Our nursery helps to grow seedings and a wonderful shade structure provides space for students to gather and learn.  Email our farm team for a tour! 

The educational space at FarmTECH features 2 acres of land containing a greenhouse, nursery, raised beds, FFA barn, and land to grow assorted heritage fruit trees, a vineyard, and row crops.  Composting, a solar station, pollinators and bees, and wind turbines offer students of all ages opportunities to learn.  Our greenhouse  is currently growing assorted cherry tomatoes and cucumbers for the use on our salad bars and chef salads.  Follow our social accounts to see what's growing...

We collaborate with small-scale certified organic family farms to source the highest quality organic products. Please see our map below to see our community partners.  We source organic milk and serve it in bulk to eliminate container waste.  Our beef come from regenerative farms in California.  Finally all our local farming partners are less then 50 miles away, helping to lower our carbon footprint. 

Contacts

Office: (408) 201-6126
Email: tbd

Office: (408) 201-6126
Email: jochnerm@mhusd.org

Our Farming Partners

Narci Organic Farms is a family business run by Maria and her two daughters, Yesenia and Angelica. Offering fresh and local vegetables and fruits.

As first and second generation immigrants, we bring knowledge from our family’s farming backgrounds and apply them to this soil, where we are the first in our families to own a farm in this country.

Richards Grassfed Beef is certified by the American Grassfed Association and is the first beef company on the west coast to receive the Savory Institute's Ecological Outcome Verified certificate.  Our animals are never fed grain, corn products, given antibiotics or growth hormones. Richards Grassfed Beef ranches are dedicated to providing the highest quality care for our animals to reduce stress and ensure proper care and feeding.

Since 2012 in Aromas, California. We are proud to be a small family farm that grows real organic food.  We grow a variety of berries, vegetables, and flowers.

Founded over 50 years ago by Akira Nagamine, this organic farm specializes in apples, Asian greens, and Japanese cucumbers.  His daughter Janet, a previous physician at Kaiser, now farms the land.

Our overall farming philosophy includes growing our crops as close and harmonious with nature as possible.

 

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