Continental Organics, a sustainable farm in New Windsor, should more than double its production of organic vegetables this spring due in part to a $100,000 loan from the spouse of a Facebook founder.
Phase two of the farm”™s overall expansion project, made possible by the investment from Hudson River Ventures, will include the addition of three 25,000-square-foot indoor greenhouses, a composting facility and four acres of raised-bed gardens. The complete expansion will include more greenhouses and fish tanks and is expected to cost $5.7 million.
“Our mission is simple: provide fresh, affordable food to local families in a way that preserves the pristine land and water of the Hudson Valley,” said Continental Organics co-founder Mike Finnegan. “The investment from Hudson River Ventures will allow us to expand our offerings and continue to serve as a viable alternative to factory farms, which take a significant toll on the environment.”
Continental Organics began in 2006 and bills itself as one of the most environmentally sound farming operations in the United States. The farm combines aquaponics ”“ growing crops and fish together in a recirculating system ”“ with conventional organic farming to produce a variety of fruits, vegetables and fish, all without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or hormones. The sustainable farming system is carbon negative and uses 90 percent less water than traditional agricultural operations, the farm reports.
The farm is veteran-owned and it reports more than half of its 120 employees are veterans.
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