When Jason Delooze hauls bundles of microgreens, lettuce, and herbs to a Rochester food pantry each week, he’s delivering more than salad ingredients. For Delooze, program manager of The Farm, the produce shows how urban farming can break cycles of food insecurity.
The Farm, run by Volunteers of America (VOA), aims to eliminate barriers to fresh food access for the 91,000 Monroe County residents living with food insecurity, an estimate reported by the 2025 Monroe County Joint Community Health Needs Assessment report. The Farm’s centerpiece is a 300-square-foot shipping container turned into a vertical hydroponic farm.
Hydroponics uses nutrient-rich water to feed plants directly at the root, making it a highly efficient way to grow food. Stacking plants in vertical trays means they can be grown even in dense urban areas where sprawling soil plots or in-ground community gardens aren’t feasible. The set-up also allows hydroponic farms to use up to 90% less water than traditional farms. Instead, water gets recycled through the system instead of being absorbed by the soil.
“[The Farm] looks like a spaceship,” Delooze says of the container on Lake Avenue where his team grows the crops that feed 200 people each week. “When people see the inside, their reactions are just amazement.”
The controlled environment of hydroponics allows for year-round growth of greens and herbs, even after Rochester’s farmers markets close for the season. By growing food locally, The Farm reduces shipping costs and environmental impact while keeping produce on pantry shelves year-round. From collard greens and chard to spring mix and arugula, The Farm focuses on food that is flavorful, nutritious, and varied. While about a third of its output is lettuce, it aims to supply recipients with ingredients they might not be able to access at standard food banks.
“The number one request we get from food pantries is fresh herbs,” Delooze says. Herbs encourage healthy eating by helping families cook flavorful meals, and they add dignity by offering the same quality ingredients people might select for themselves at a grocery store.
In addition to food pantries, The Farm supports VOA housing programs, including emergency shelters and scattered-site housing for vulnerable populations including veterans and older adults.
“The produce we grow goes to people in these programs,” Delooze says. “With rising food costs, that’s key to helping them reach long-term stability.”
VOA’s broader mission is to restore “hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging” to people in need.
The Farm also serves as a workforce development hub. Over six weeks, participants get 20 hours of hands-on training in hydroponic farming—from seeding to harvesting to maintenance.
Delooze especially enjoys the agri-therapy programs, where participants gain physical, social, and mental health benefits by working alongside staff.
“When I show a group of seniors or 5-year-olds around The Farm, that feels great,” he says. “They’re having fun. It’s like they’re at Disneyland.”
Launched in 2023 with federal grant funding, The Farm now produces more than 1,000 pounds of food each year, with plans to expand.
Community members can support the project by donating to Volunteers of America Upstate New York or purchasing produce online through its website. Delooze hopes this is only the beginning of a larger effort to fight food insecurity “one leaf at a time.”