Freight Farms

Freight Farms was a Boston-based agriculture technology company known for pioneering containerized vertical farming. Founded in 2010 by Brad McNamara and Jon Friedman and incorporated in 2013, the company developed climate-controlled, hydroponic farms inside repurposed shipping containers, enabling local food production anywhere in the world. Freight Farms aimed to democratize farming and promote food security by making it accessible, sustainable, and scalable.

Freight Farms' History

The concept behind Freight Farms originated in Boston, Massachusetts, where McNamara and Friedman were exploring rooftop greenhouses to grow food in urban environments. Recognizing the limitations of rooftop installations and the abundance of shipping containers at Boston’s port, they pivoted to a more modular and mobile design. This led to the development of the Leafy Green Machine (LGM)—a 40-foot shipping container retrofitted with LED lighting, automated irrigation, and climate control systems.

Freight Farms officially launched in 2013 and quickly became the first company to commercialize container farming, placing self-contained vertical farms in schools, restaurants, hotels, and underserved communities. The company’s mission was to promote sustainable, decentralized agriculture and reduce the environmental footprint of food supply chains.

Technology and Products

Freight Farms' flagship product, the Leafy Green Machine, allowed users to grow crops year-round regardless of external climate. Key technological features included:

• Hydroponic vertical growing systems
• farmhand® software for remote monitoring and automation
• LED-powered photosynthesis control
• Integrated environmental sensors

The farmhand® platform enabled growers to track growing conditions, receive alerts, and manage their farm from any location. The company also launched an online Knowledge Base, Grower Academy, and community forums to support a growing user base across 39+ countries.

Expansion and Global Reach

Freight Farms grew to become a global AgTech brand, with farms deployed in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Their network supported a diverse user base, including:

• Educational institutions
• Nonprofit organizations
• Commercial food producers
• Hospitality businesses

By 2022, the company had raised over $17.5 million in Series B3 funding, led by Aliaxis and Ospraie Ag Science, to enhance product development and scale farmhand® software.

Financial Challenges and Shutdown

Despite its innovative model and global reach, Freight Farms faced significant financial headwinds in the evolving controlled environment agriculture (CEA) market. Rising energy costs, supply chain issues, and the capital-intensive nature of container farming created profitability challenges.

In late 2024, a planned merger with Agrinam Acquisition Corporation, which would have taken the company public, was canceled. This was followed by mass layoffs and a reduction in operations. On April 30, 2025, Freight Farms officially ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy, citing liabilities of $7 million.

Impact on Customers

The company’s closure disrupted services for its global network of container farm users. Key changes included:

• farmhand® software deactivation (cloud monitoring and remote access)
• Discontinued technical support and replacement parts
• Closure of community forums and online resources
• Archived support content made available temporarily

Growers were encouraged to rely on peer-to-peer communities via platforms like Reddit and Facebook.

Freight Farms Legacy and Industry Context

Freight Farms is widely credited as a pioneer in container farming, influencing the broader AgTech and vertical farming sectors. Its innovations made high-tech farming accessible in dense urban areas, deserts, cold climates, and remote communities.

Its closure came amid broader struggles in the AgTech space, joining a list of notable companies—including Plenty, Bowery Farming, and Jones Food Company—that have either shut down or scaled back due to similar financial pressures.

Read the company's most recent news here.