Why are you starting a farm?
Your mission is an important part of your farming adventure.
Mission
Not only does a mission help to drive and direct your work, but it also helps prospective customers connect to your business.
Start by reflecting on why you’re starting a farm. Is it because you want to make money? Feed your community? Improve a food desert? Each mission is unique to the person serving it; identify yours and use it to help structure your business. Need help? Take inspiration from other farmers!
It’s never been easier to obtain customized pricing for your Freight Farms project.
Complete a short form and receive a custom quote.
Who are your customers?
When you’re growing hyper-locally, no one knows the customers better than you do.
Consider Where the Local Demand Is
Who are the people in your community that need the produce you grow? That will buy the produce?
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What competitors to your future business exist? (Other hydroponic growers, large-scale producers, etc.)
Are there hyper-local produce options already available to consumers? How are they priced?
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What are the trends at restaurants in your area? Has there been an increase in farm-to-table dining concepts?
How many farmers markets are there nearby? Are they well attended?
How many CSAs are there in your area? Do many locals purchase from them?
What are the local grocery stores like? Do they sell hydroponically grown or local produce? How do the prices of these products compare to conventionally grown plants?
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Direct-to-Consumer
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Farmers Markets
E-Commerce (Barn2Door, Market Wagon, Local Line)
Restaurants
Grocery Stores
Learn more about identifying the right customers for your business on our blog.
Consider Marketing
Finding — and keeping — customers isn’t just a matter of identifying who they are. You also have to market to those customers to gain their business. View our marketing guide.
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Think about advertising in local channels, tabling at farmers markets, handing out produce samples at local food stores, and more.
Don’t forget that your produce and its packaging are also marketing tools. Learn more in our packaging blog.
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Web presence, social media accounts, and a regular newsletter can help you to keep in touch and continue to get customers’ business.
“Get to know and become a member of the community that you want to serve. Join a CSA, go to the farmers market, be a patron at the restaurants you want to work with, introduce yourself to community organizers. You’ll learn so much about your different markets.”
— David Ridill, Freight Farmer & Account Executive
What will you grow?
Align your crop mix with your business goals and the needs of your market.
Crops
This is one of the fun parts of planning your project! What do you want to grow? What do the customers you’ve identified want to eat? Over 500 varieties of crops can be grown in our farms. Check out our Crops page to learn about them!
If you’re growing for restaurants, consider specialty crops such as Thai basil, red veined sorrel, and shiso. If you’re not sure where to start, consider tried-and-true Freight Farms varieties like summer crisp, romaine, and oak leaf lettuces.
Download our Business Planning Tool to understand anticipated yields for various crops and potential revenue for your market.
Where will you put your farm?
Your farm needs a home. Luckily, it can go just about anywhere.
Farm Site Requirements:
50’ x 10’ flat area
Solid surface such as concrete, railroad ties, or sonotubes
Electrical hookup
Water access
Internet access
Farm Delivery
Freight Farms coordinates farm delivery to your prepared site. Your farm is delivered via semi-trailer truck, typically with the help of a crane or forklift. Alternately, you can coordinate your own delivery if you prefer.
Explore our Site Preparation & Delivery Guide
Watch how our farms are delivered and installed.
Creative homes for container farms
Backyard, parking lot, alleyway — you name it! There’s tons of room for creativity here.
How to make it all come together
Turn this dream into a reality.
Financing
Whether you’re planning to use personal capital or pursue financing opportunities, we want to make funding a Freight Farm achievable. Several financial resources can help:
Business loans
Equipment loans
Grants
Incentives
Our Account Executives are always available as a resource for you, as well. They can help you explore funding options and discuss the financing of your farm. Understand your financing options.
Business Planning Tool
If you’re ready to dive in deep, nothing is more comprehensive than our Business Planning Tool. This adaptive spreadsheet covers every aspect of planning and launching a farming project.
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Loan repayment tracking
Return on investment
Cash flow
Operating costs
Balance sheet
Weekly yields for various crops
Potential weekly income for different crop blends
Ready to take the next steps?
Fill out this form and download the Business Planning Tool, including ROI, cash flow, operational costs, and more. An Account Executive will be in touch soon!
