I apologize if this has been discussed before, but I didn't find a thread about it.
I understand that things are ALWAYS cheaper when sunlight can be used, so please don't state the obvious. I am curious to know if it would be profitable at all to operate an indoor hydroponic farm under artificial lighting, with plants other than cannabis. This does not necessarily have to be a way to retire young, either, lol. I'm just talking about whether or not a profit could feasibly be achieved doing this.
One example that comes to mind, to me, is lettuce. Many people who live in hot environments just WISH they could grow lettuce outside in their gardens, but it cannot be done. Where I live, it can't even be successfully done in the winter, lol. So, that was what got me thinking about this... it seems that cold weather crops grown locally in hot weather climates would probably be easily marketed and sold. The fact that air conditioning and banks of T5 lights would need to be used could possibly be offset by the fact that everyone who lives in hot climates grumbles about not being able to find good lettuce, especially the flavorful varieties that just don't get sold in stores. So maybe that might work.
But it just got me wondering... are there other scenarios where indoor farms under artificial lighting is profitable?
I understand that things are ALWAYS cheaper when sunlight can be used, so please don't state the obvious. I am curious to know if it would be profitable at all to operate an indoor hydroponic farm under artificial lighting, with plants other than cannabis. This does not necessarily have to be a way to retire young, either, lol. I'm just talking about whether or not a profit could feasibly be achieved doing this.
One example that comes to mind, to me, is lettuce. Many people who live in hot environments just WISH they could grow lettuce outside in their gardens, but it cannot be done. Where I live, it can't even be successfully done in the winter, lol. So, that was what got me thinking about this... it seems that cold weather crops grown locally in hot weather climates would probably be easily marketed and sold. The fact that air conditioning and banks of T5 lights would need to be used could possibly be offset by the fact that everyone who lives in hot climates grumbles about not being able to find good lettuce, especially the flavorful varieties that just don't get sold in stores. So maybe that might work.
But it just got me wondering... are there other scenarios where indoor farms under artificial lighting is profitable?