La Sierra University

Farming Returns to La Sierra, Hydroponics Style

During La Sierra University’s early years, the school farm, especially its alfalfa fields and watermelon patch, was a critical source of income. In January PHOTO: LA SIERRA ENACTUS 2021, farming returned to campus—on a big rig.

During the 2019-2020 school year, the university’s student Enactus team, based in the Zapara School of

Business, began work on its Freight to Table project. Through the Bostonbased Freight Farms program, the project will grow varieties of lettuce and leafy green vegetables, herbs, flowers, and roots inside a 40-foot shipping container using hydroponics technology. La Sierra's Enactus team meets on Zoom during spring quarter 2020. Top row, second from left, team president Ariana Marquez. Enactus Freight to Table Project Leader Joana Garcia Enriquez, third row, far right.

The Enactus team is developing partnerships with the business school’s Hispanic Business Incubator and a new Title V-funded program that For further information, visit https://enactus.lasierra.edu/freight-to-table/ will incorporate STEM education into summer curriculum for incoming freshmen. Freight to and in future years. Enactus, a global nonprofit based in

Table will also offer agricultural technology education to Springfield, Mo. is focused on economic and educational elementary students in local school districts. empowerment through business innovation and

La Sierra’s Freight Farms shipping container was collaboration. slated to arrive on campus toward the end of January. “The reason we chose to work with the Freight Farms

The Enactus team is communicating with local markets organization is their experience with other universities,” and with the university’s Dining Commons toward said Joana Garcia Enriquez, a La Sierra business establishing produce supplier agreements. In the future, management and finance major and leader of the Freight the team aims to hire students to manage the farm as it to Table Enactus project. “They have created a model increases production. in which we will have support from the purchase of the

The hydroponics farming project will be included farm to beyond [for] establishing our own business.” in the team’s Enactus annual report and multi-media “Before I was the project lead, I helped develop the presentation during Enactus competitions this spring plan to implement a container farm on campus for STEM education,” said Enriquez. “This experience has been “This experience has been enriching. enriching. I have had the pleasure of working closely with others and becoming someone others can depend on.

I have had the pleasure of working closely I have learned a lot about management, planning, and with others and becoming someone considering what’s best for the team.” others can depend on.” ____________________ By Darla Martin Tucker