It’s been two years since Regina Villari, of Sewell, N.J., stepped into unchartered territory. Her idea was so different that no one else in her New Jersey town was doing it.
“I was intrigued by the operation,” said Villari. “I always wanted to have my own business and I wanted to do something in the local community that could provide fresh, local produce all year round.”
That something turned out to be a hydroponic greenhouse. Hydroponics uses nutrient-rich water instead of soil to grow lettuce, herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables. The greenhouse allows Villari to grow the crops year round, feeding thousands of people throughout the state.
“I was looking to do something that could turn over a quick product and generate revenue,” said Villari. “I liked the concept of hydroponic [growing] and clean produce with no pesticides.”
Villari’s started her business, Fresh Water Greens in Sewell, N.J., after helping her brother start a vineyard. Because of the length of time it takes for a vineyard to build revenue, Villari thought it would be good to use a portion of the vineyard to build a greenhouse and grow hydroponic lettuce and herbs to generate money.
But getting started wasn’t easy.
“I went to conventional lenders and I was turned down by all of them,” said Villari, who had little farming experience outside of helping her father raise livestock. “Then I turned to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). They took a chance on me when no one else would. They not only made the loan process easy, they also provided me with a lot of support and information once the loan was closed.”
Villari received U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FSA farm ownership and operating loans to help get Fresh Water Greens off of the ground. FSA financing provided the assistance needed to build a facility and begin production. It was the first hydroponic operation funded by New Jersey FSA.
“I was unfamiliar with hydroponic production, its financial viability and the scale of production that can be achieved, largely because most of New Jersey has traditional agriculture,” said Matthew Pavone, FSA farm loan officer who worked with Villari. “I invested time and energy into researching hydroponic production by speaking with multiple farmers. The more time I invested, the more the plan Regina presented made sense and appeared possible.”
Since its opening, Fresh Water Greens has worked its way into 37 supermarkets around New Jersey, and demand continues to grow. Villari is in the process of obtaining another FSA loan to expand her existing greenhouse structure. She also is aiming to get her vegetables in schools and universities through USDA’s Farm to School Program. And within the next five years, she hopes to expand beyond New Jersey.
Helping new farmers succeed is priority for USDA. We’ve partnered with over 180 organizations through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to develop workshops, education teams, training and technical assistance specifically to help new farmers access the range of USDA assistance designed specifically for them.
For more information about FSA loans for beginning farmers and ranchers visit the FSA website or call your local FSA county office.