A wonderful new article from this online publication truly captures the Vertical Harvest story from the spark of an idea to today: poised to expand across the country. Read this profile on how Vertical Harvest seeks to help create a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, […]
Two of our co-founders, Nona Yehia and Caroline Croft Estay, (plus a few of our wonderful employees) were featured on the Today Show on Monday, March 8, 2021 in honor of International Women’s Day. View the clip here.
This feature in Fast Company highlights our expansion plans, our social impact commitment to co-locate with affordable housing across the US, and our continued commitment to providing nourishing food and jobs. Click to read article.
Vertical Harvest’s new Westbrook location was profiled prominently in the Winter 2020/2021 issue of Edible Maine, a premier food publication in the state. The article focused on the importance of vertical farming in making cold climate communities more sustainable. View full article here.
We were so honored that Vertical Harvest, our team of changemakers, and our CEO Nona Yehia were named a CNN Champion for Change in 2020. This award profiles 10 innovators leading the charge to a better world with new ideas and groundbreaking solutions. Click the button below to view a promotional clip, or read the article and view the three-minute segment specifically about Vertical Harvest.
Vertical Harvest: How a Farm Provides Upward Mobility for People with Disabilities
In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a town centered around its tourism industry, 78 percent of people living with disabilities are unemployed. But now, a local farm is working to change that. In partnership with the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, Matter of Fact Correspondent Leone Lakhani travels to Wyoming to see how Vertical Harvest is creating economic options for people with disabilities.
Produce Grower / By Patrick Williams / Photos by Allison Krieg
Vertical Harvest takes a new approach to CEA by focusing on the three bottom lines of people, profit and the planet, employing a staff of workers with different abilities.
When visitors walk into Vertical Harvest’s luminous three-story glass building for tours, they’re stepping into the architectural brainchild of Nona Yehia.
The singular combination vertical farm and greenhouse grows specialty greens, leafy greens, microgreens and tomatoes using LED lights, robots and moving hydroponic carousels.
An eclectic mix of workers, many of whom have intellectual and physical disabilities, take care of the futuristic farm and its many technologies, growing some of the freshest produce around.
The Jackson, Wyoming, grower aims to provide those with disabilities opportunities for upward mobility, says Yehia, who is co-founder and CEO. The operation, she says, provides an example of how farms can change the perception of the abilities of workers with disabilities. Workers who often only have opportunities in entry-level jobs thrive here in an environment where they can help solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, including land and water shortages and other environmental issues.
“It’s the way Vertical Harvest is a team that’s conceived of the company that’s really different, saying that you can do well by doing good, and that it actually benefits the bottom line of the business to do so,” Yehia says.
She says Vertical Harvest would never open a farm without helping an underserved population, whether that be people with disabilities or other underserved groups, such as refugees or veterans. And Vertical Harvest aims to expand; for example, it is developing a vertical farm project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Vertical Harvest maintains high standards for its produce, too. Daily, it regulates three separate growing environments that, with the glass walls, are influenced by the outside environment. It follows integrated pest management protocols and offers a varied product mix — including 30 different microgreens varieties — catering to chefs, high-end restaurants and grocery stores.
“I like to say that people come to us because of our mission, but they come back because of the quality of our produce,” Yehia says.
An indoor vertical farm in Jackson that produces and sells roughly 100,000 pounds of fresh produce annually is powered by a workforce built on the concept of diversity.
Nearly two-thirds of Vertical Harvest’s workers face disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome or vision, speech and learning impairments.
Caroline Croft Estay is a company co-founder and says inclusive, integrated workplaces are game changers for businesses because they bring in new energy – everybody is excited to clock in.
“They’re ready to work, they’re on time, they work hard,” she states. “And it really shifts the culture, and kind of raised the bar for all of us, creating this really beautiful, fluid workplace where everybody works together and works hard.”
The three story hydroponic operation produces as much food as a traditional five acre soil farm, year round, and with a lot less water.
Vertical Harvest workers grow about 25 varieties of micro and specialty greens, lettuces and tomatoes.
But Croft Estay adds that workers also are trained to tackle administrative tasks, sales, marketing, customer service and technical maintenance.
Croft Estay says while the training process for workers with disabilities can require an upfront investment, the long-term outcome is substantial.
She also maintains there’s a job out there for every individual who wants one, regardless of their specific ability level, and says everyone has a right to work.
“And yes, the training can take a little bit longer, but then the commitment and the dedication,” she states. “We have no turnover. Everybody that works at the greenhouse stays at the greenhouse, and wants to stay at the greenhouse.”
Croft Estay hopes businesses of all types will come to see people with different abilities as an untapped and valuable workforce, eager to give back to their communities and earn real wages.
Nationally, 25% of people with disabilities currently live in poverty, and just one in three is employed.
Grist | By Claire Elise Thompson
Nona Yehia is CEO and cofounder of Vertical Harvest, a company in Jackson, Wyoming, that cranks out roughly 100,000 pounds of produce each year in a three-story, state-of-the-art, hydroponic greenhouse. Bumble Bee tomatoes, rainbow chard, butterhead lettuce — the company’s 34 employees generate as much bounty as a 10-acre traditional farm while using only one tenth of an acre of land.
And there’s something else: Many of those employees have developmental disabilities. Including this underserved population in such an innovative endeavor “is about empowerment,” Yehia says. “It’s about exposing ability.”
We caught up with Yehia (who, along with cofounder Penny McBride, was featured on Grist’s annual list of “Fixers” in 2016) to talk about a new documentary that follows the “tumultuous” first 15 months of Vertical Harvest’s endeavor, and the company’s journey in the years since it was filmed.
🌱 Sponsor a Tray, Grow Impact – Together. 🌱
What if five friends could come together to nourish a community?
Introducing our 5x50 “Sponsor a Tray” effort, a fresh way to give back, grow good food, and support meaningful employment. 🌿
Here’s how it works:
👫 5 people
💵 $50 each
🌱 1 hydroponic tray sponsored at $250 total
Together, your tray will fuel more than just healthy eating — it also powers inclusive employment, sustainable urban farming, and access to healthy food for underserved communities.
📽️ Watch to rally your crew and grow something meaningful!
👉 Check out the link in bio to Sponsor a Tray!
#SponsorATray #GrowWithUs #VerticalHarvest #SocialImpactFarming
THANK YOU to our longtime tech partner Thrive Agritech (@thriveagritech) for helping us shine even brighter. 🌱💡
Thrive recently sponsored $10K worth of growing trays, expanding our custom LED lighting systems in Jackson with the same high-performance lights used at our farm in Maine. Now, these lights are powering harmonized crop trials and driving smarter, scalable, year-round growing.
As part of this collaboration, Thrive also sat down with our Head of Farm Technology & Systems, Arik Griffin, to talk about how tailored light recipes and trusted tech partners like Thrive help us scale with purpose.
🎥 Watch here!
#VerticalHarvest #ThriveAgritech #VerticalFarming #LEDInnovation #AgTech #CEA #SustainableFarming #SmartFarming #FutureOfFood #UrbanAgriculture #FoodSystemInnovation
🌈 Pride is Growing Strong at Vertical Harvest! 🌈
This June, we’re wearing our pride on our sleeves — literally. Our limited-edition “Wicked Inclusive” t-shirt is available for order now!💥🌈
At VH, we believe in equity — not just in how we grow food for the community, but in how we show up for all people. Pride is more than a parade; it’s a celebration of identity, resilience, and community. We’re proud to support our LGBTQ+ team members, partners, and neighbors, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you.
🎉 Catch us marching in the Portland, Maine Pride Parade on June 21, honoring the beauty of diversity and the power of inclusion — values rooted in everything we do at Vertical Harvest.
💛💚💙💜 Stop by, say hi, and help us spread the love — and snag your Wicked Inclusive tee while supplies last!
👉 Check out the limited-edition merch drop: Link in bio!
#WickedInclusive #PrideMonth #VerticalHarvest #PortlandPride #GrowWithUs #InclusiveEmployment #LoveIsLove
#PrideMonth #VerticalHarvest #Pride2025 #GrowWithUs #InclusiveEmployment #SustainableFuture
🌱 This May, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we`re proud to partner with the Wellness Center at St. John’s Hospital in Jackson by donating our fresh microgreens and specialty greens. This meaningful connection took root when the Wellness Center joined our Weekly Boost—a team-wide gathering that fuels inspiration and connection across Vertical Harvest. That visit sparked a collaboration grounded in a shared purpose: wellness for all.
That purpose came to life when Vertical Harvest employee Ty Warner, supported by Pete Estay, delivered vibrant, nutrient-packed greens straight from our farm to the heart of the hospital.
By the end of May, we will have donated 160 lbs to St. John’s—16 boxes total!
This is another way Vertical Harvest likes to nourish the local community here in Jackson—and if you want to support activities like this, consider Sponsoring a Tray! We have over 1200 trays in Jackson that feed into the local food system and donations just like this! Visit the link in our bio or www.verticalharvestfarms.com to grow with us!
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #WellnessInAction #FoodIsMedicine #InclusiveEmployment #VerticalHarvest
🌍 “If Vertical Harvest isn’t out there in the world, we feel like there would be a loss.” — Nona Yehia, CEO of Vertical Harvest
Some investors say: prove it first.
But thousands of people already see their values reflected in what we’re building.
That’s why we launched Sponsor a Tray—a way to democratize participation in the food system. 💚
➡️ For every tray you sponsor, you help grow local food, create inclusive jobs, and tell the story of a specific crop, farmer, and destination—whether that’s a school, hospital, or community center. Every tray has an RFID tag, so you’ll know exactly where your impact lands.
It’s investing in a better food future, together. 🌱
@edibleplanetventures @verticalnona
#SponsorATray #VerticalHarvest #DemocratizeImpact #CommunityInvestment #UrbanFarming #FoodJustice #InclusiveFarming #Hyperlocal #SustainableFoodSystems #BePartOfTheEcosystem
💡“Profit and people go hand in hand. We’re profitable because of our people.” — Nona Yehia, CEO of Vertical Harvest
At Vertical Harvest, inclusion isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a growth strategy. With one of the lowest attrition rates in our sector, we’ve proven that investing in your team drives both performance and purpose.
And let’s be clear: Impact isn’t a trade-off for profit.
We’re laser-focused on financial discipline because profit is the unlock to impact—not the other way around. That’s how you build real systems change.
📈🌿 Hear more from Nona on the FoodTech Junkies podcast about how Vertical Harvest is rewriting the script on what a successful ag business looks like.
@edibleplanetventures @verticalnona
#VerticalHarvest #PeopleFirstProfitForward #InclusiveEmployment #AgTech #UrbanFarming #SocialImpact #DisabilityInclusion #SustainableBusiness #WomenInLeadership
👩🌾 “I know I don’t look like a farmer—but I am.” — Nona Yehia, CEO of Vertical Harvest
At Vertical Harvest, we lead with operations, not hype. We grow real food, create real jobs, and build farms that deliver real returns—like a projected 40% EBITDA at our Maine location. In a field where too many vertical farms have overpromised and underdelivered, we’ve stayed grounded in what matters:
✔️ Disciplined operations
✔️ Financial fundamentals
✔️ Culture that sustains performance
Yes, we’re in foodtech. But first and foremost? We’re farmers. And that’s how we’re reshaping what’s possible.
🎧 Dive into more from Nona’s FoodTech Junkies episode—where she talks about reclaiming value in uncertain markets, building trust with investors, and becoming “kings and queens of blended finance.”
@edibleplanetventures @verticalnona
#VerticalHarvest #UrbanFarming #FarmersFirst #FoodTech #AgTech #EBITDA #InclusiveEconomy #BlendedFinance #WomenInAg
🌱 “A farm is an ecosystem.” — Nona Yehia, CEO of Vertical Harvest
In indoor agriculture, it’s not enough to bolt together high-tech parts and hope for synergy. At Vertical Harvest, we’ve always seen ourselves as systems integrators—bringing together the brightest minds and latest innovations across HVAC, LED lighting, plant science, and more.
Why? Because success isn’t just in the tools—it’s in how you design the whole. 💡🪴
🎙️ Hear Nona’s insights from her FoodTech Junkies podcast interview and discover how thinking like architects of ecosystems—not owners of tech—gives us an edge in growing food and impact.
@edibleplanetventures @verticalnona @sharon.cittone
#VerticalHarvest #ControlledEnvironmentAgriculture #FoodTech #UrbanFarming #SustainableDesign #SmartFarming #EcosystemThinking #WomenInAgTech
🌱💚 From Our Farm to Your Heart — Thank You! 💚🌱
To everyone who has sponsored a tray at Vertical Harvest so far — THANK YOU. Your support nourishes more than just plants — it helps grow opportunities, inclusion, and impact in our community. 🥬✨
Every name on this list represents a seed of change. Together, we`re cultivating a future where fresh food and meaningful employment flourish side by side.
We see you. We appreciate you. We couldn’t do this without you. 🙌
👉 Want to join this amazing list of change-makers?
Sponsoring a tray is easy — and powerful. Your sponsorship directly supports our mission to grow food and futures for all. Learn more at the link on our bio!
#ThankYou #SponsorATray #GrowWithUs #VerticalHarvest #InclusionInAction #CommunityPoweredFarming
🌱 New Merch Drop Alert! 🌈
Our 1st Edition Run is here — for a limited time only! Rep the mission, support inclusive employment, and grow good with us—one tee and tote at a time.
With every Vertical Harvest swag purchase, you`ll be looking VERY COOL and supporting our Grow Well Model—Vertical Harvest’s customized employment approach that champions personal growth, professional development, and community engagement for our entire farm team. Grow Well drives inclusive hiring and brings joy and meaning to our work culture.
🛒 Orders will be collected through June, followed by screen printing and embroidery. Your swag will arrive by early August—just in time to rock your values at summer’s peak!
👉 Tap the link to grab yours before they`re gone: LINK IN BIO
#VerticalHarvest #GrowGood #InclusiveEmployment #SustainableStyle #GrowWell
Growing Fresh Food & Jobs in Urban Communities.
VERTICAL HARVEST HEADQUARTERS & MEDIA INQUIRIES
info@verticalharvestfarms.com
PO Box 641
Jackson, WY 83001
JACKSON, WYOMING
info@verticalharvestfarms.com
155 W. Simpson Avenue
Jackson, WY 83001
