Alex Tyink | Source | CEO and Co-Founder of Fork Farms at Fork Farms
Alex Tyink
Alex is the co-founder of Fork Farms and the inventor of its farming technology and methods. He is a former opera singer with 10 years of leadership experience in the social service sector, who works to inspire vast food system change across communities.
Ten years ago, Alex Tyink, a native of Appleton, Wis., was pursuing a career in opera. Now he works passionately to solve food insecurity globally and provide everyone with access to healthful, fresh greens. He is passionate about sustainability and empowering communities through accessible food production,
He began his urban agriculture career in Brooklyn, New York where he first worked on rooftop gardens and then started building indoor growing systems of his own for educational and food security purposes. This eventually led to the development of Fork Farms intellectual property, and the rest is history.
After relocating back to Wisconsin, Alex continued his work as program director at Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin and as director of innovation and programs for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. In 2018, he was a Fox Cities Future 15 winner and featured as Fox Cities Magazine’s ‘Big Idea’.
Alex currently lives in Appleton, Wisconsin with his wife, son and their dog Maya.
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Fork Farms
CEO and Co-Founder of Fork Farms
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The Future Is Green: Alex Tyink Of Fork Farms On Their Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet
An Interview With Alex Tyink
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Extreme Weather Taking Toll on Crops, Livestock This Season - The Food Institute
Extreme weather is damaging or destroying crops globally, especially coffee, cocoa and avocados – and climate scientists are concerned.
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Watch CBS Mornings: How hydroponic garden provides for students - Full show on CBS
Our series, "Rebuilding America," examines the school lunch revolution and its impact on students. In Wisconsin, some schools are not only growing their own food, but also harvesting and servicing it the same day.
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Grow Green Onions Indoors with Hydroponics: Expert Tips
Alex suggests spacing green onions 2 inches apart and maintaining a temperature of 68-77°F. They need 8-10 hours of light daily but can manage with 5. Harvest in 60-90 days when tops reach 6 inches. "Hydroponic systems like Flex Farm can optimize growth and yields."
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“Climate change is causing an average 20% decrease in crop yields. Additionally, supply chain issues along with food and resource waste are leading to a reduction in nutritional quality. One solution is to eliminate weather and supply chain variables by moving toward hydroponics.
Hydroponic farms provide the community access to fresh foods such as leafy greens, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and more every month, regardless of climate. … Hydroponically-grown vegetables and fruits are packed with nutrients since the food is grown in the community it is served in, making them among the healthiest fresh foods available. A new lettuce crop can be produced every 28 days.” -
"Localize systems — Whether it is energy production, water filtration, food production, healthcare, public safety, etc., localize these services and put them in the hands of the people who are directly impacted. This will result in higher efficiency, and an efficient business is clean business."
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“One way to keep food costs down these days is to grow your own fresh food so you have complete control over the costs of it and all the associated details,” Alex Tyink, CEO and co-founder of Fork Farms, a company dedicated to helping people grow their own food, said in an email.
Tyink said that a hydroponic environment offers highly predictable yields, which translates into less waste, higher-quality foods and profitability.
U.S. News & World Report
