Operation Food Search: Promoting Sustainable Food Security Through Partnership

Industry

Nonprofit/Charity

Challenge

Operation Food Search needed a dependable source of fresh produce throughout the year and sought to engage their community in practical nutrition education, overcoming seasonal and supply chain limitations.

Results

Operation Food Search successfully integrated year-round fresh produce into their pantry with Flex Farms donated by United Healthcare Community Plan of Missouri. The produce grown in the Flex Farms goes to Operation Food Search's Fresh Rx program, which connects families experiencing food insecurity with fresh, local food and resources for a healthy household. The Fresh Rx program aligns its menus with the growing cycles so that participants are able to make recipes with produce picked that day.

Key Product

Fork Farms Flex Farms

www.operationfoodsearch.org/hydroponic-farms-help-battle-food-insecurity/

1900

Families Served Per Flex Farm

<$1

Cost per Pound

5000

Annual Capacity of Food Servings

We're really focused on looking at local food access and sustainability. We're looking at ways to get more fresh, particularly fresh and local, produce into the hands of all of the community residents. Hydroponics is a really energy-efficient way for us to start building that capacity.

Tricia Ragain

Director of Policy and Innovation, Operation Food Search

We love how vertical farming creates a sustainable year-round supply of fresh vegetables for our community. If we can reduce food insecurity and improve overall nutrition for Missourians, everyone wins.

Jamie Bruce

CEO of United Healthcare Community Plan of Missouri

About Operation Food Search

Operation Food Search is a St. Louis-based non-profit organization focused on addressing food insecurity by providing fresh, locally sourced food to families in need.

The Challenge

Operation Food Search faced the challenge of securing a reliable source of fresh produce year-round. They also aimed to engage clients, volunteers, and partners in hands-on nutrition education, all while navigating the unpredictability of seasonal produce and supply chain disruptions.

The Solution

Operation Food Search implemented a compact, low-maintenance indoor farming model built around two donated Flex Farms (from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri). The solution co-locates production, education, and meal-kit fulfillment to reliably supply Fresh Rx with same-day–harvested greens and herbs at an estimated ~$1/lb operating cost.

The Results

The implementation of Flex Farms led to year-round availability of fresh produce for Operation Food Search, which was incorporated into their pantry and meal programs. The success of this project has created a repeatable model that other nonprofits can adopt to enhance food security and community nutrition education.