YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown City School District Food Service Department was awarded a $10,000 grant from William Swanston Charitable Fund to purchase two Flex Farms to produce lettuce.

The Flex Farm system is an indoor, vertical hydroponic technology that grows more than 394 pounds of produce annually. The $4,000 units take up less than 10 square feet of space and are portable.

“The district sincerely thanks the William Swanston Charitable Fund and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley for their generosity,” said food service Director Tascin Brooks. “We are so excited to implement the vertical lettuce growing hydroponic farms in three elementary schools and have our scholars be involved in the growing process every step.”

William Swanston Charitable Fund is a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.