In this episode, I speak with Chris Corkery, the founder and CEO of Hundred Acre, who shares his journey from being a chef in New York City to starting a vertical farm in Milwaukee. Chris talks about the early mornings at farmers' markets, the respect he developed for fresh produce, and the realization that led him to bring farming into urban areas. His passion for food and community shines through as he discusses the challenges and rewards of creating a year-round urban farm that not only provides fresh produce but also creates jobs and educational opportunities.
Chris also opens up about the personal experiences that shaped his love for food, from cooking with his mom as a child to working in high-end restaurants. He reflects on the importance of community in his work and how his farm aims to serve and connect with the local area. Chris's candid insights into the realities of running a vertical farm, the obstacles he faced, and the innovative solutions he implemented make this conversation both inspiring and informative.
Join us as we explore the intersection of food, community, and sustainability with someone who's truly passionate about making a difference.
Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag
5:52 Chris Corkery's Culinary Journey
12:01 Running a Farm
15:02 The Restaurant Experience
18:24 Community Building Through Farming
23:59 Communicating Value in Indoor Farming
"The first thing that occurred out of that was really the understanding and respect for the products themselves, because you were trying to get the best, and in order to do that, you had to learn what was the best, and you had to try to get it before someone else did."
"Food inherently brings us together. We all got to eat, and we tend to like to do it together. For thousands of years, I don't think that's going to change anytime soon."
"Just because you open a giant lab-type facility that has a controlled environment doesn't mean that it all just works at the push of a button. It's still plants and people. So remember, it takes people to feed people, and there's no perfect science to working with people."
Website - https://hundred-acre.org/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-corkery-ba72b54/
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Mentioned in this episode:
2025 US Indoor Farm Report
http://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/report
Indoor AgCon 2025
CEA Summit East 2024
AgTech Companies
https://agtechcompanies.com