The Start of it All

Found in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Closed Loop Farms is making some amazing things happen. Growing everything from microgreens to edible flowers - this innovative farm utilizes regenerative farming practices to create a truly functional closed loop.

We were lucky enough to sit down with farm founder Adam Pollack to discuss just what makes Closed Loop Farms so special. 

Adam was the one who started the farm four years ago in search of locally grown food accessible from where he lived. In the years since, the farm has become a local staple in the community as well as in greater Chicago. 

A Difference You Can Taste

All produce at Closed Loop Farms is harvested no more than 24 hours before it is delivered to customers. As you can imagine, this leads to an incredibly fresh product with higher quality taste and nutritional value than what you’re likely to find in local supermarkets or grocery stores.

This is not the only benefit of Closed Loop Farms produce vs. what you’ll find in the  supermarket. Adam explains that Closed Loop Farms are also able to guarantee a better sense of stability to customers, as they do not have to contend with global supply chains as a local business. For many of us who have dealt with similar issues during the pandemic, this is a great source of relief.

Giving Back to the Community

The farm has made a significant positive impact on the local community.. Not only is the money the farm earns reinvested in the community, but Adam and Closed Loop Farms make it a priority to employ residents from the neighborhood. Any unsold products are donated after 24 hours to local places like the Love Fridges that provide food to community members in need. They also share their extra seeds freely with the public.

Mentorships also play a strong part in the fabric of Closed Loop Farms. Both After School Matters and Windy City Harvest are involved with the farm, as are a number of other internship groups. In fact, a good portion of Closed Loop Farms employees were hired after completing an internship program!

Their use of organic soil sets them apart from other hydroponic growers who tend to use synthetic fertilizers. Every single one of their crops is tended by hand, which certainly requires more time and labor, but produces a product of considerably higher quality. 

Eat Purely x Closed Loop Farms

Here at Eat Purely, we use the Closed Loop Farms salad greens in many of our salads - while we think our salads are certainly delicious, you can get Closed Loop Farms greens delivered straight to your home through their Salad Club! If you’re looking for more than salad, they also provide other add-ons from local businesses in the area, supporting local businesses as much as they can. And that’s most definitely something we can get behind.