F. Scott Fitzgerald is quoted, “I care not who hoes the lettuce of my country if I can eat salad!” There’s not much dirt and no hoeing at Rainsville Farms and the salad greens are the best. As a bit of a lettuce snob – it needs to be fresh, crisp & very clean. This farm delivers on all the above and is located on a cement slab.

Fred Chevaz, a Data Service Manager, retired after 33 years from VSP Vision Care. He wanted out of the corporate world and was looking for a place for his energies and his expertise. After researching franchises that did not give him the control he desired, he returned to his family roots in farming. His grandfather was a lifelong farmer in Rainsville, New Mexico raising his family of nine children. Fred always had a backyard garden and loved giving his crops to neighbors, colleagues and friends. His research led him to Freight Farms in Boston that provides completely outfitted containers for hydroponic farming. This company founded in 2010 “manufactures high volume crop production units made from up-cycled freight containers”. The vision is to provide a perfect environment in a small footprint 365 days a year regardless of climate.

The 40’ refrigerated container comes complete with all the tools to farm. There is not a hoe or shovel in sight, but there is Bluetooth capability, instruments that measure the nutrients in the water, a system that controls the water, LED lights and a great big panel that probably takes an IT person to manage. The container was shipped from Boston and is now parked off of Douglas Rd. in Rancho Cordova. Inside red and blue lights are on at appropriate times which allow the best growth for the lettuce. Fred spends about 10 hours a week on his farm and is able to manage it daily from his home.

He begins with pelleted seeds that almost have 100% germination. There are six varieties of Butter lettuce including Red Cross, Selanova, Green, Red, Green Oak leaf and Alkindus. Fred also has Basil and Mini Romaine. The seeds once sprouted are transferred to towers hanging vertically in the controlled air temperature of 62 degrees. The system uses 300 gallons of water a month as it recycles through the towers. A quarter of the farm is harvested each week and so there is a constant rotation of crops.

This enterprise only began in July of this year. Chefs love having access to fresh micro greens that are delivered within in a few miles of the farm. Marriot and Claim Stake Brewery have already signed on. This is a family company with his son providing graphic design and web management. His 10-year-old twins help him plant the seeds. His farm is the only the second in the state after Google. He is planning on adding two more containers as we all become more conscious of where our food comes from.

Alona’s hobby is food and all the fun that it brings. Email [email protected]