{"id":25524,"date":"2026-08-02T21:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T16:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=25524"},"modified":"2026-08-02T21:00:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T16:00:43","slug":"nyc-launches-program-to-turn-felons-into-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=25524","title":{"rendered":"NYC launches program to turn felons into farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F08%2F136269624.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Mamdani administration is launching a new program to turn felons into gourmet-food producers and offer \u201cfarm-to-table\u2019\u2019 dining for inmates.<\/p>\n<p>The New York City Correction Department has <a href=\"https:\/\/farmboxfoods.com\/use-cases\/penitentiaries\/\">awarded a nearly $230,000 annual contract <\/a>to a Colorado-based firm, FarmBox Foods, to teach inmates \u2014 or \u201cpersons in custody\u201d \u2014 at Rikers Island and other municipal jails how to \u201cvertical\u201d farm in an urban setting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe purpose of this agreement is to procure a Vertical Hydroponic Farm for Persons-inCustody (PICs) to develop a skill that can be utilized when being released from custody,\u201d the Correction Department said in a public notice announcing the award.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke with Rikers Island inmates during a World Cup match on July 15. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe Department of Correction seeks to revitalize its Workforce Development Unit to include new and innovative trades and skill building classes that directly relate to re-entry and reduced recidivism. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on an evaluation of potential trades and skills that are felony friendly, DOC believes that there is a gap in services as it pertains to urban agriculture, community gardening, local and small business entrepreneurship, local and small business perspectives, and culinary arts,\u201d the agency\u2019s notice said.<\/p>\n<p>The food grown on the farm will be used to provide healthy, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/03\/08\/us-news\/nyc-councilwoman-gale-brewer-wants-pricey-farm-to-table-meals-for-rikers-inmates\/\">\u201cfarm-to-table\u201d <\/a>food options for inmate meals.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>FarmBox Foods, a Colorado-based company, will begin teaching Rikers Island inmates about \u201cvertical\u201d farming. <span class=\"credit\">FarmBox Foods<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>FarmBox Foods previously launched a vertical farm at the Coleman Low Federal Correctional Institution in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe farm produces high volumes of nutritious food and readies the adults in custody for release, equipping them with a skill set that can contribute to their community while reducing the likelihood of recidivism,\u201d the firm says on its website.<\/p>\n<p>Vertical hydroponic farming is a method where crops grow in stacked, vertical layers without soil.<\/p>\n<p>Plant roots receive minerals and water through a circulating nutrient-rich water solution, and LED grow lights ensure plants receive adequate light when produced indoors.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>FarmBox Foods\u2019 controlled-climate Vertical Hydroponic Farm can simultaneously grow more than 7,000 plants.<\/p>\n<p>Housed in pre-insulated shipping containers, these boxes grow leafy greens, herbs, peppers, small tomatoes, micro greens and tree seedlings, among other vegetables.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProduction occurs near your consumer, reducing food miles, alleviating supply chain issues and preserving shelf life,\u201d FarmBox Foods says on its website.<\/p>\n<p>The system is equipped with sensors &amp; software to control all climate conditions, including temperature, humidity, watering schedule, lighting, air exchange, pH levels and nutrient concentration.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>FarmBox Foods aims to allow inmates to \u201ccontribute to their community\u201d by growing vegetables in the Vertical Hydroponic Farm. <span class=\"credit\">FarmBox Foods<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another benefit: Pests and weeds aren\u2019t an issue since there\u2019s no soil \u2014 as long as the system is cleaned regularly.<\/p>\n<p>Vertical hydroponic farming also uses substantially less water than an outdoor, soil-based farm.<\/p>\n<p>The Correction Department said it\u2019s eager to provide convicted or accused criminals in custody a valuable skill when they re-enter society.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The Correction Department gave FarmBox Foods a $228,000 contract to lead the program for one year. <span class=\"credit\">Gregory P. Mango for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe have a therapeutic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/10\/04\/nyregion\/garden-rikers-island.html?eafs_enabled=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">horticulture program<\/a>. We plan on expanding the program with potential for workforce-readiness,\u201d a DOC rep said.<\/p>\n<p>DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards, who was incarcerated at Rikers as a young man, is a booster of the horticulture program and has visited the existing outdoor gardens tended to by inmates at Rikers.<\/p>\n<p>The agency awarded FarmBox Foods a one-year contract for $228,000, with an option to renew.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFarmBox Foods is the sole manufacturer and exclusive source of its proprietary products,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll FarmBox Foods units are exclusively designed, engineered, and fabricated in the United States, and are sold directly by FarmBox Foods. Therefore, DOC has determined that proceeding with FarmBox Foods LLC as the sole source provider is in the best interest of the City.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The massive Rikers Island jail complex will be <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/24\/us-news\/mamdani-admin-to-responsibly-shrink-nyc-jail-population-as-correction-officer-ranks-dwindle\/\">phased out and replaced<\/a> by new borough-based jails over the next five years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Mamdani administration is launching a new program to turn felons into gourmet-food producers and offer \u201cfarm-to-table\u2019\u2019 dining for inmates. The New York City Correction Department has awarded a nearly $230,000 annual contract to a Colorado-based firm, FarmBox Foods, to teach inmates \u2014 or \u201cpersons in custody\u201d \u2014 at Rikers Island and other municipal jails&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/136269624.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}