Growing the Future: How Skandalaris Startup Associate Tova Feinberg is Transforming Local Food Systems Through VertiGreens

What began as a WashU research project has grown into a rapidly expanding agtech venture with the potential to reshape how fresh food reaches communities across the St. Louis region.

Tova Feinberg, founder and CEO of VertiGreens and a Startup Associate at the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is on a mission to make fresh, nutrient-dense food more accessible by growing it closer to where people live. Through innovative hydroponic farming technology, VertiGreens is helping create a more resilient and sustainable food system—one shipping container at a time.

From WashU Research to Startup Growth

The seeds of VertiGreens were planted in 2021 while Feinberg was studying at Washington University in St. Louis. After earning her MBA, she continued her work at WashU as a Startup Associate with the Skandalaris Center while simultaneously building her venture.

What started with a single shipping-container farm has since evolved into a growing operation focused on producing pesticide-free greens and herbs year-round using controlled-environment agriculture. By leveraging hydroponic systems housed within climate-controlled shipping containers, VertiGreens can produce fresh food regardless of weather conditions, seasonal limitations, or supply chain disruptions.

Addressing a Regional Challenge

Feinberg founded VertiGreens to address a fundamental issue in the food system: much of the produce consumed in the Midwest travels thousands of miles before reaching consumers. According to Feinberg, much of the region’s lettuce is shipped from states such as California and Arizona, resulting in longer supply chains and reduced freshness.

VertiGreens’ model focuses on local production, allowing produce to be harvested at peak freshness and delivered directly to restaurants, organizations and communities throughout the St. Louis area. The company’s mission is simple but ambitious: rebuild the food system by growing food where people live and making it available year-round.

A Major Milestone

Recently, VertiGreens reached a significant growth milestone by acquiring 21 additional shipping-container farms, dramatically expanding its production capacity. Nineteen of the units are outfitted for hydroponic farming, while additional units will support operations and storage.

Many of these units are currently located at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation’s Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center in East St. Louis, where VertiGreens is partnering to advance food access, workforce development, and agricultural education. As part of the partnership, a portion of the produce grown on-site will be donated to local families, further aligning the company’s growth with community impact.

Source: STL Made

Building Community Through Innovation

While VertiGreens is a technology-driven company, its mission extends beyond farming. Feinberg has built partnerships with local chefs, community organizations and educational institutions, creating opportunities for both food access and workforce development.

The company’s produce is already being used by some of St. Louis’ leading restaurants, providing chefs with ultra-fresh herbs, greens and specialty crops grown just miles away from their kitchens. At the same time, VertiGreens is helping introduce students and community members to emerging agricultural technologies and career pathways within the growing agtech sector.

Innovation Rooted in Purpose

At its core, VertiGreens reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that the Skandalaris Center strives to cultivate: identifying a challenge, developing an innovative solution and creating measurable impact.

For Feinberg, the vision has always been bigger than a farm. It is about strengthening communities, improving access to healthy food and creating a future where local, sustainable agriculture can thrive.

As VertiGreens continues to expand across the region, it stands as a powerful example of how WashU founders are leveraging innovation to solve real-world problems and build ventures that benefit both people and communities.