Meet Mike Johnson, a passionate advocate for building equitable food systems through innovative urban farming. As the founder and CEO of Our Farms DC, a DC-based non-profit, Mike has spent years learning about and implementing hydroponic farming techniques to grow fresh, sustainable produce in the Washington, DC area. Now, he’s taking his mission a step further with Nurture Greens, a new line of hydroponically grown salads designed to support his nonprofit's goals. With guidance from Union Kitchen's food business accelerator, Mike has found a way to connect his passion and build a product consumers want.
Emphasize that all produce is cultivated using a hydroponic urban farming system.
Founded in 2023, Our Farms DC aims to combat food insecurity while promoting workforce development in the DC area. Through the nonprofit, Mike established an urban hydroponic farm to grow a variety of lettuces, leafy greens, herbs, and roots. Hydroponics is a soil-free farming method that uses nutrient-rich water and a controlled environment. This approach is more efficient than traditional farming because it uses less water, promotes faster growth, and eliminates the need for pesticides or herbicides. Hydroponics offers a sustainable solution for producing fresh, nutrient-dense food in urban spaces, providing a year-round food source despite limited space and resources. This also means organizations like Mike's non-profit can grow and supply fresh, nutrient dense produce in areas that are traditionally considered food deserts.
Initially, Mike sold his produce at farmers' markets. Through this and connecting directly with consumers, he realized that their was both a need and demand for better produce. This led Mike to Union Kitchen's Accelerator, where he worked to develop a product that would extend his farm's impact while meeting the needs of the community and filling his mission.
With Union Kitchen's support, Mike focused on creating a line of grab and go salad kits that would resonate with consumers. For all this to work, Mike needed a product that reflected both his passion and what people want.
Union Kitchen and Mike began by perfecting the taste and texture of the greens. To do this, they needed to understand exactly what people love about salads and what they could build a better version. Through this process and a lot of taste testing, they realized the hydroponics is actually what makes this so special. The hydroponics resulted in more flavorful lettuces that have the added bonus of being more nutrient-rich and fresher thanks to its shorter travel distance from urban farm to consumer (locally grown in DC).
The next step was designing packaging that aligned with how consumers typically enjoy their grab and go salads. Research revealed that most people consume salads for lunch, so the team created a convenient, single-serve package. The packaging design highlights the greens’ vibrant color and crisp texture through transparent materials, underscoring the high quality of the lettuces used.
With Nurture Greens, Mike Johnson has created a product that supports his mission to fight food insecurity and is absolutely delicious. Whether you're looking for a quick and nutritious lunch or simply want to enjoy a salad packed with flavor and nutrients, Nurture Greens is a great choice.
Now available online and at Union Kitchen stores, it's the perfect way to support both your health and the community. Try Nurture Greens for yourself and experience the difference that locally grown, hydroponically farmed produce can make!
Comments