House of Hope Expands Growing Hope Farm in Palm City
STUART, Fla. – House of Hope, always seeking more opportunities to provide fresh and healthy food to its clients, has recently purchased the assets of VibeWright Farms in Palm City to expand its ability to grow and distribute healthy produce to its clients.
The 40-foot freight farm has operated for several years under the ownership of Kris and Katie Wright. It is located on property owned by the Dawson family along State Road 714 and is next to House of Hope’s Growing Hope Farm and Packing House.
In announcing the sale of their property to House of Hope, the Wrights said, “We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received over the years and couldn’t be happier to see the farm’s next chapter dedicated to serving and uplifting others.”
The farm, equivalent to four acres of in ground growing annually, consists of a sophisticated temperature-controlled hydroponic greenhouse where fresh produce is grown without pesticides. It complements the hydroponic greenhouses, in-ground beds and orchard already in full operation on Growing Hope Farm.
“We’re excited about what this acquisition means to our ability to provide fresh produce to our clients year round,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “Even in summer, when the heat slows down our production in our existing greenhouses, we’ll be able to have a consistent supply of produce for our pantry program and our 30 food partners across Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties.”
The Lichtenberger Family Fund at The Community Foundation Martin – St. Lucie and a generous donor who prefers to remain anonymous together funded House of Hope’s purchase of VibeWright Farms.
At its current peak production, Growing Hope Farm produces more than 1500 packages of fresh produce weekly. Of the 1.2 million pounds of food House of Hope distributed last year, 500,000 pounds was fresh produce to help feed and empower the most vulnerable residents of the community.
With the increased capacity at the VibeWright Farms site, House of Hope expects to generate more produce to support the over 30,000 individuals who benefit from the organization’s healthy food distribution each year. Any excess will be sold to the public, generating funds that can be invested in Growing Hope Farm and House of Hope’s feeding programs.
“The needs of the community continue to increase,” Ranieri said. “We’re grateful that with the purchase of the assets of VibeWright Farms, we have one more way to help meet the growing demand for our services.”
To learn more about House of Hope or make a donation, visit House of Hope’s website at www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 26,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
