NBA’s Ekpe Udoh launches agriculture partnership with OSU-OKC

Oklahoma City campus hosts hydroponic growing container from LGR Farms

Former Edmond Santa Fe High School basketball standout and current Utah Jazz center Ekpe Udoh has brought to the Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City campus his unique approach to teaching people about healthy eating.

Udoh visited the school’s campus on Feb. 14 to announce a partnership between Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC) and his Edmond-based hydroponic farming company, LGR Farms.

As part of the partnership, OSU-OKC will host an LGR Farms hydroponic shipping container stationed inside the OSU-OKC Farmers Market pavilion. The 40-foot-long container is stocked with rows of vertically grown lettuce, kale and other leafy greens. The pesticide- and herbicide-free crops are fed with nutrients and filtered water and nurtured by LED lights in the temperature-controlled environment.

The company sells its produce from its headquarters in Edmond and at local markets, including frequently at the OSU-OKC Farmers Market.

Udoh launched LGR Farms in July with the hopes of increasing awareness of healthy food options for metro-area schoolchildren, while at the same time producing enough food to supply local schools with nutritious offerings.

“I’m excited to explore this partnership with OSU-OKC,” Udoh said. “Together we can teach students and spread awareness of safe and healthy eating.”

The LGR Farms container on the OSU-OKC campus will provide a field trip opportunity to students from across the region, who will have the opportunity to visit the campus and learn about the container’s hydroponic farming systems and healthy eating, as well as water conservation, recycling and alternative energy.

OSU-OKC President Brad Williams said the partnership with LGR Farms is an opportunity to engage the public in an interactive experience of growing nutrient-rich foods in an innovative way. 

“OSU-OKC is excited to be working with Ekpe and LGR Farms in this unique partnership,” Williams said.  “As part of the OSU system, we embrace the land-grant mission and consider the container as the centerpiece of an opportunity to talk about food production, water conservation, recycling and alternative energy sources.”

More information about LGR Farms is available at www.lgrok.com. For more information about the OSU-OKC Farmers Market, go to www.osuokc.edu/farmersmarket.