Downtown vertical farming venture takes root
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Farm Zero CEO Russell Steinberg with some of the produce in his concept farm on LaSalle. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
When Russell Steinberg looks at vacant downtown office spaces, he doesn't see failure — he sees farms.
Why it matters: Steinberg's first Farm Zero site, located kitty-corner from City Hall, feeds hundreds of Chicagoans with its lettuce, herbs, edible flowers and microgreens.
- But if his expansion plans stay on course, that number will grow to thousands this fall and eventually millions.
Plus: This summer's cyclosporiasis outbreak is highlighting the value of transparently sourced produce as Chicagoans seek locally grown lettuce.
Backstory: Entrepreneurs have been talking up and starting vertical farms — indoor hydroponic systems where rows of plants are stacked on shelves — for decades.
- And the industry has faced some high-profile bankruptcies in recent years.
So why does Steinberg think his company can succeed where others have failed? He believes he's arrived in the right place at the right time with the right lessons learned.
- "It wouldn't have made financial sense before COVID," he told Axios recently during an interview at his 1,000-square-foot concept farm at 30 N. LaSalle St. "But post-COVID this is one of the only things that can [easily] go into vacant office space, and we don't care if we're looking out over the street or if it's [lower level]."
How it works: Unlike building a hydroponic farm warehouse from scratch, this model uses fully formed buildings with HVAC and plumbing. "So all we're doing is working with the landlord to identify space, and tapping straight into the existing infrastructure," Steinberg said.
- Plus, Farm Zero was the first business to benefit from a 2024 City Council vote that quietly allowed urban agriculture in downtown high rises.
State of play: Since launching Farm Zero's LaSalle Street site in late 2024, Steinberg has been delivering microgreens, lettuce, flowers and herbs to clients including UChicago Medicine, José Andrés' Bazaar Meats and Blue Plate catering.
- The greens also go out to the downtown corporate clients and the Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood, whose students do tours of the site.
- Individual consumers can also order the greens online and pick them up at LaSalle and Washington.
Monica's thought bubble: I now buy microgreens for pick up after my weekly trip to City Hall for the mayor's news conference. It's super easy and the multi-brassica Baller Mix ($10.99) is delish.
What's next: Steinberg is building Farm Zero 2.0 in basement digs at 125 S. Wacker Drive, where the growing area will expand to 10,000 square feet and serve a restaurant run by the 50/50 group, a retail store and a wellness plan for Deloitte employees.
- "We have a five-year roadmap, Steinberg said. "After 2.0, we're going to move on to 3.0 that we're planning for 401 S. State St. in the Robert Morris College building," where he plans to include an educational component.