BERRIEN COUNTY – It might just be the future of farming and the first of its kind in the United States is coming to Berrien County: Produce grown year round, inside, and we're not talking about a greenhouse, it's called vertical farming. Produce is grown vertically, using renewable energy.
To say Milan Kluko is putting roots down in New Buffalo would be putting it lightly.
"We will grow, leafy mix greens, lettuce, baby spinach,specialty peppers, yellow, red, green, banana peppers, cucumbers, herbs, raspberries, blackberries, specialty eggplant," says Kluko.
Kluko is about to begin growing 10 to 15 tons of produce inside an empty warehouse, formerly used to house Plastic Masters, in New Buffalo. He owns Fountainhead Engineering which specializes in environmental engineering and renewable energy and now he is about to embark on what he says is the first of its kind in the United States.
"The vertical farming will occur in this area," says Kluko as he walks into a 15 thousand square foot room in the 50 thousand square foot warehouse.
Here's how it will work:
The organically grown plants will live in the old warehouse. They are grown in cylinders which rotate on a carousel like structure. The cylinders rotates around a light bulb and through water. Kluko says the whole operation uses 99 percent less water than conventional farming, and it will all be run completely on renewable energy.
"So basically from Chicago, to South Bend to Kalamazoo, this farming operation can provide organically grown vegetables. All done on renewable energy," says Kluko.
Kluko plans to have small wind turbines on the property to take advantage of the lake winds. He will place solar panels on the roof of the building and the heat will eventually be provided through the use of biomass or wood.
"Our goal is to have a harvest by early summer," says Kluko.
He also hopes his operation in New Buffalo will be the start of something around the world.
"We will look back at this 10 years from now and I will look like a dinosaur," says Kluko as he laughs.
The whole operation isn't cheap. Kluko says when it is all said and done it could cost anywhere from a few million dollars to several million dollars. But they will be growing at least 10 to 15 tons of locally grown, organic produce.
Kluko says you will notice a 5 to 10 percent discount on this produce compared to grocery store organic produce because you don't have the transportation costs. But the veggies will still be a little more expensive that regular store bought vegetables because of the renewable energy aspect.
This produce comes with local jobs -- phase one will employ 5 to 7 new people. He plans to expand in the future and could employ another 30 to 40 people.
The New Buffalo Township wrote a letter a support for the operation saying they feel it is an opportunity for the whole community and it will be exciting for the small community to be at the forefront of using alternative fuel solutions.
