Derek Drake at his hydroponic farm in Mokena on Oct. 27, 2022. After being furloughed in the pandemic, Drake began pursuing his dream of becoming a farmer through hydroponics. Drake’s business, Ditto Foods now supplies local restaurants, food co-ops and a school district. Drake also partners with Market Wagon, an online farmers market. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
After being furloughed in the pandemic, Ford Heights native, Derek Drake began pursuing his dream of becoming a farmer through hydroponics. Drake’s business, Ditto Foods, is on a mission to democratize the food system and provide access to healthy foods to residents of his hometown.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/WNALUNK5GVGC3HPML6W2B6THUA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/HSZNPGKIL5GGLBCQDL723PZKCA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/NY7IK3JU35EVPAC3FJNMXWVT4U.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/WNALUNK5GVGC3HPML6W2B6THUA.jpg&description=Photos%3A%20Farming%20through%20hydroponics){kind=link}