Growing Equity: How Flex Farms Are Tackling Food Insecurity Through School and Community Partnerships

At Fork Farms, we believe everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food, no matter their zip code. That’s why our mission is rooted in more than just innovation; it’s grounded in equity. Across the country, and increasingly, around the world, Flex Farms, indoor mobile hydroponic farms, are transforming the way communities grow, access, and share food—right where it’s needed most.

Food Insecurity Is a Community Issue—And So Is the Solution

According to Feeding America, over 44 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, including 1 in 5 children. These aren’t just statistics—they represent students showing up to school hungry, families navigating food deserts, and communities struggling to provide consistent nourishment.

Flex Farms are designed to meet this challenge head-on. By bringing indoor vertical farms directly into schools, community centers, food pantries, and nonprofits, we empower partners to grow fresh produce on-site, year-round, with minimal space, water, or resources.

The Power of Partnerships

We’ve seen firsthand that when communities grow their own food, they also grow resilience, confidence, and opportunity. Our partners are the heroes of this movement.

Here are just a few powerful examples of Flex Farms in action:

• Ashwaubenon School District (WI): 34 Flex Farms serve students in classrooms and cafeterias, transforming both education and nutrition.
• Ozaukee Food Alliance (WI): Grows produce with Flex Farms for food pantry guests, adding consistent access to fresh greens.
• Vincent High School (Milwaukee, WI): Students in the Agribusiness program manage 12 Flex Farms and donate produce to local organizations.
• Bemidji Boys & Girls Club (MN): Teaches kids to grow vegetables and sell them at farmers markets, thanks to a Flex Farm funded by a state grant.
• Spring Branch ISD (Houston, TX): Launching a district-wide hydroponic program with Flex Farms in 2025 to educate and nourish students.
• Youngstown City Schools (OH): Uses Flex Farms to produce lettuce for school meals and support Y-STEAM curriculum goals.
• Exeter Township Schools (PA): Elementary students grow and donate produce through a hands-on hydroponics initiative.
• Communities In Schools (WA): Students grow produce in Flex Farms across the state to support nutrition and science education.
• Caribbean Schools (Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Barbados): Flex Farms enhance climate resilience and educational outcomes through regional initiatives.

Sustainable Innovation with Global Impact

Fork Farms works daily to innovate and support positive, sustainable change and to ensure fresh food is accessible to all. In fact, in 2023, our products had the potential to save:

• 4.6 million food miles
  
• 567,000 pounds of food waste
  
• 12 million kWh of CO₂
  
• 32 million gallons of water
  

These savings are more than numbers—they represent real, tangible change in communities across the globe.

We will continue to grow with our partner customers to build hydroponic growing systems that meet their needs and offer flexibility, scalability, and substantial growth in the years to come.

Growing Equity One Harvest at a Time

What makes the Flex Farm so impactful isn’t just the technology—it’s the people using it. Every head of lettuce grown in a classroom, every bunch of kale harvested for a food pantry, is a step toward a more just and nourishing food system.

Food equity isn’t a future goal—it’s something we’re growing every day, together. Let us help you find a way to join the movement!