Using hydroponic growing technology from Fork Farms and advanced automation from Rockwell Automation, Clock Tower Farms’ 72 Flex Acre hydroponic systems grow nearly 200,000 pounds of fresh leafy greens and other produce every year. The crops are grown indoors using nutrient-infused, recirculated water and carefully monitored via Rockwell’s PlantPAx^® system to ensure consistent, high-quality harvests. This innovative system dramatically reduces water use, conserves farmland, and produces healthy food in a controlled environment designed for efficiency and sustainability.

What makes Clock Tower Farms especially impactful is how quickly the food moves from harvest to families right here in Eastern Wisconsin. Fresh produce travels directly from the farm to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s trucks, often within hours of being harvested. From there, it is distributed to our network of nearly 600 hunger relief partners including food pantries, meal programs, and community-based organizations serving neighbors across 35 counties.

This direct path from farm to community ensures that the food arriving at local distribution sites is fresh, nutritious, and ready to be shared with families right away. It also reduces food waste and creates a more reliable supply of fresh produce for communities that need it most.

Food pantries throughout Eastern Wisconsin are experiencing some of the highest levels of demand in more than a decade. Rising grocery costs and economic pressures continue to push more households to seek support. For many neighbors, accessing fresh fruits and vegetables can be one of the biggest challenges when budgets are tight.

Clock Tower Farms strengthens our hunger relief network by helping ensure that healthy food remains part of the solution.

The project also supports Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s NourishRx approach to Food as Medicine, which prioritizes access to nutrient dense foods that can help prevent and manage diet-related health conditions. Consistent access to fresh produce plays a critical role in improving health outcomes, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

By increasing the availability of fresh greens across our partner network, Clock Tower Farms helps make it easier for families to choose foods that support both immediate nourishment and long-term health.

Beyond the food itself, the project reflects a broader vision for the future of hunger relief, one that brings together innovation, technology, and community partnership to build a stronger and more resilient food system. By growing food closer to where it will be distributed, Clock Tower Farms reduces reliance on distant supply chains while creating a dependable local source of nutritious produce.

For Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, it represents a powerful example of what can happen when organizations come together with a shared commitment to solving hunger in new and meaningful ways.

Together with Rockwell Automation and Fork Farms, Clock Tower Farms helps ensure that more neighbors across Eastern Wisconsin have access to the fresh, healthy food they need to thrive, today and for years to come.