LINO LAKES, Minn. – At his day job, Lino Lakes City Councilmember Dave Roeser has been receiving rave reviews. His Garden Fresh Farms recently won the Energy and Clean Technology Division of the Minnesota Cup. The Minnesota Cup is an annual competition that seeks to support and accelerate the development of the best breakthrough ideas from across the state.
In addition to the honor, the award comes with a $25,000 prize to help the company grow. Garden Fresh Farms grows lettuce and basil in a sustainable, indoor, hydroponic environment. Their building takes up only about one acre of land, but it produces the equivalent of 100 acres of farmland.
Nearly 1,100 applicants competed in this competition, and Garden Fresh Farms was one of the six division winners that competed for the grand prize. Although they did not win the grand prize, their indoor farming ideas have been gaining a lot of attention since they started farming in 2010.
