The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation is set to become one of the country’s largest greenhouse operators with the launch of its Native Green Grow project on its reservation near Parshall, North Dakota. The project will allow the tribe to grow large quantities of leafy greens and vine crops for export, distribution on the reservation, and to neighboring tribes and food banks in isolated areas.
The project is seen as a way for the tribe to regain its agricultural roots, after the land was flooded decades ago due to the Garrison Dam construction. The greenhouse project, which includes a 3.3-acre greenhouse complex, warehouse, and other facilities, will be the first phase of a larger operation that will eventually cover 14.5 acres. The greenhouse will utilize natural resources like potable water and natural gas from the Bakken oil field, which will be captured and compressed for heating, power, and fertilization.
The project aims to provide fresh produce to the tribe’s 8,300 residents, neighboring reservations, and potentially export its produce. The tribe expects to grow nearly 2 million pounds of food annually initially, which could eventually reach 15 million pounds. The initiative aligns with a national trend among tribes to increase food sovereignty and self-sustainability, especially in the wake of supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA has initiatives to support indigenous food sovereignty and several tribes across the country are investing in food systems to achieve this goal.
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