According to business manager Vinnie Lima, GetBlok Farms was formed in 2022 specifically to bring the latest Agricultural Technology (AgTech) to underserved communities. Aliquippa in Beaver County was a natural choice for the company’s headquarters due to the number of incentives from federal, state, and local city officials—but also because of the region’s rich history in innovation and leadership. He explains, “Our goals with GetBlok Farms are to grow the freshest, most nutrient-rich produce that is hyper-local to the Pittsburgh area, while being an incubator and mentoring employer in the AgTech field for our community.” The company’s vertical-farmed products range from lettuce and leafy greens to herbs, roots, and even edible flowers. These variants are sustainably grown year-round, regardless of climate, seasons, or pests—all while consuming 97 percent less water and running 100 percent on wind-generated, renewable energy.
“With my past experience in produce market sales, when Vinnie approached me about creating an IT company that grows food, I thought it was a perfect fit for the both of us. Even now, years after working with my family, I still get excited about being able to produce and sell freshness to the community,” Christina adds.
The overall goal of GetBlok is to make fresh produce available, year-round, to the greater Southwestern Pennsylvania region—and perhaps beyond. Although technology is a fundamental component of GetBlok Farms, the company strives to always balance this with how it directly affects people. In other words, they are focusing on the technology behind the crops—not to displace human labor, but to enrich the intelligence about how their crops grow, what makes them better, how they can make it safer for consumers, and where there may be opportunities for improvement.
“Additionally, we want to remove barriers for direct-to-consumer access to our products through our regional refrigerated lockers,” Vinnie says. “And the vital concept of consistent, year-round products in our climate-controlled environment was perhaps most reinforced this past winter as we endured record-breaking cold temperatures here.” Vinnie further addresses the fact that the challenge of access to fresh food is not limited only to distressed neighborhoods, but also regarding the quality of food available to everyone via traditional purchasing methods (grocery stores, farmers markets, online sites, etc.). “We like to think that GetBlok Farms fits into this large market as a way to shrink the distance between the produce grown and your fridge (farm to fork)—leveraging technology to grow the cleanest, most nutritious produce around, while supporting the local economy.” The result is actually longer-lasting produce in one’s refrigerator. In fact, some of GetBlok’s customers have reported their produce remaining fresh for three to four weeks!
As the company’s growth and the demand for its products continue to build, it is only natural that plans for expansion have already developed—and that expansion has now targeted the Strip District. Vinnie explains, “We are really focusing on growing our capacity of unique products in each of our categories (lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, roots, and edible flowers) to support customer demand. We’ve collected so much feedback from users, restaurants, retailers, and chefs around their desire for consistent, year-round, unique offerings that we are taking it upon ourselves to perform research and development (R&D) on growing unique items in our vertical farm.” As a result, GetBlok Farms announced in February the launch and opening of its first “Veggie Vault” food locker at The Terminal. This exciting development will bring Amazon-type convenience to consumers, while supporting a local farm growing the best produce available.
Christina and Vinnie are excited about this plan because they recognize the Strip’s rich history of being the wholesale center of Western Pennsylvania. For many decades, of course, The Terminal in its original form was the core for distribution of produce to over 40 counties in Pennsylvania. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to walk down The Terminal once again with some of my fondest memories in mind, working with my dad and brother. As things sometimes come full circle, I am very proud of GetBlok Farms for taking this leap,” Christina notes. “In addition to appreciating the rich history with Christina’s family in the Strip District, we are so grateful for the opportunity to incorporate our innovation within an historic landmark in the Pittsburgh scene. Introducing fresh produce back into The Terminal has huge significance, not only for its history, but also about bringing innovative, local businesses to the area,” Vinnie concludes.
For more information about GetBlok Farms, visit getblok.farm or contact via info@getblok.farm / 724-252-2353.
Christopher Cussat is a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer who fondly remembers The Terminal’s past and loves witnessing its re-imagined new life and future! Read more of his work at: cussat.com.