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Lake Region Electric Cooperative Producing Hydroponic Vegetables to Sell at Lakes Area Retailers

Sep 29, 2021 | 10:35 AM

LREC’s hydroponic romaine lettuce ready for purchase at Larry’s Supermarket in Pelican Rapids

PELICAN RAPIDS (KDLM) – After their first produce sale to Larry’s Supermarket in Pelican Rapids, Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s (LREC) latest pilot program is now in full production.

Since purchasing a hydroponic GroShed, LREC has been learning the ins and outs of hydroponics and what it takes to grow different varieties of lettuce and peppers.

“The process of growing hydroponic vegetables has been fun and challenging,” states Candace Rastedt, an LREC employee who volunteers in the GroShed. “Figuring out planting and harvest timelines, along with which varieties thrive best in a hydroponic setting has been like an exciting science experiment these past few months.”

LREC’s hydroponic GroShed can produce 144 lettuce plants across four vertical growing racks and 26 pepper plants within their wrap around growing area on the adjacent wall. Currently, LREC is growing romaine and buttercrunch lettuce and poblano and habanero peppers.

Around 50-60% of GroShed’s power source comes from the LREC GoWest solar array located at their headquarters. The secondary source of power is the wind-solar hybrid which powers the Erhard substation and is the energy source

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