Colorado has no shortage of original ideas, but FarmBox Foods stands out because it solves a problem that affects almost every community: access to fresh, healthy food. Based in Sedalia, the company converts pre-insulated shipping containers, enabling users to control the climate inside much more efficiently. This allows for a climate-controlled farm that is capable of growing produce year-round—anywhere, in any climate, with minimal water and power. These aren’t prototypes or gimmicks. They’re fully functional farms changing how food can be grown and delivered.
From Container Homes to Container Farms
FarmBox Foods didn’t start as a farming company at all. Co-founder Jake Savageau originally planned to develop shipping container homes. But after running into regulatory barriers, he toured a container farm at a local high school. That single walkthrough changed everything. Jake returned with a new vision and brought on Jason Brown, now the company’s VP of Operations and the first employee he hired, to help build something better than what he had seen.
Within days they had a warehouse in Castle Rock, a container on the way, and a new mission they hadn’t fully defined yet. What followed was a long stretch of hands-on experimentation that became the foundation of everything they do today.
A Year of Trial, Error, and Commitment
Their first farm was built from scratch and tested for an entire year. During that time, they dealt with floods, system failures, crop losses, overheating, automation issues, and every type of troubleshooting imaginable. But instead of giving up, they treated every failure like a data point. They rebuilt sections, refined airflow, adjusted nutrients, perfected lighting, and monitored how plants responded hour by hour.
All the produce grown during that research year was donated to local food banks. The lesson was clear: if this system could be reliable, scalable, and affordable, it could help people in a real way.
By the end of that year, the technology was stable, the systems were repeatable, and FarmBox Foods had their first paying customers.
Building Farms That Work Anywhere
FarmBox Foods now manufactures multiple types of container farms, each designed with efficiency and accessibility in mind:
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Vertical hydroponic farms for leafy greens and herbs
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Gourmet mushroom farms that produce high-value culinary mushrooms
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Fodder systems that grow livestock feed
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Tree-seedling propagation units used for reforestation initiatives
Each farm uses a fraction of the water of traditional agriculture and produces the equivalent of acres of food in a compact footprint. These farms operate in extreme climates, remote communities, dense urban areas, rural areas without grocery stores, and places where supply chains fail.
What makes their model even more powerful is the range of partners using them. Schools integrate the farms into STEM and business programs. Nonprofits use them to fight food insecurity. Hospitals, veterans’ groups, restaurants, farmers, and independent entrepreneurs all operate FarmBox Foods systems in their own way.
Recognition and the Coolest Thing Made in Colorado
In 2025, FarmBox Foods won the Colorado Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Colorado award for their Vertical Hydroponic Farm. It wasn’t just a feel-good moment—it was a sign that Colorado’s manufacturing sector recognized the real-world value of what FarmBox Foods had built. Their system isn’t just innovative; it’s practical, efficient, and already making measurable impact in multiple communities.
A Call From NASA
One of the most unexpected moments in the company’s journey came when NASA reached out. They requested a specialized container farm for controlled agriculture research. Instead of food, NASA wanted to grow cotton for advanced materials studies.
Jason designed the system, NASA reviewed it, and the approval came within two weeks. The first unit is set to run at Kennedy Space Center, with another being prepared for the International Space Station. A company that started in a small Colorado warehouse is now contributing to agricultural research in space.
Real Impact in Real Communities
Despite the expansion and the accolades, FarmBox Foods’ most significant contributions remain local and human. They’ve deployed farm units in Colorado neighborhoods considered food deserts, giving residents access to fresh produce for the first time in years. Schools across the state use FarmBox Foods systems to teach students—hands-on—about agriculture, chemistry, biology, business operations, and sustainability.
They’ve supported veterans returning to civilian life with accessible farming businesses. They’ve placed farms in hurricane-prone regions where their systems kept running even when local infrastructure didn’t. And they’ve partnered with nonprofits to supply reliable, nutrient-dense food to families who need it most.
This blend of technology, mission, and community impact makes FarmBox Foods one of the most compelling companies in Colorado today.
Hear Their Full Story
The complete conversation with FarmBox Foods—how they started, what they learned, and where they’re headed—is featured on the IM FROM DENVER Podcast with Brandon Lloyd.
Episode driven by Mountain States Toyota.
