A Native American tribe in North Dakota is preparing to grow lettuce in a large greenhouse complex that will soon be one of the largest in the country. This initiative allows the tribe to produce much of its own food after federal dam construction flooded their ancestral land, where they had cultivated corn, beans, and other crops for thousands of years.
Construction is ongoing on the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation’s 3.3-acre greenhouse, part of the Native Green Grow project. By this summer, enough of the structure will be finished to start growing leafy greens, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Tribal Chairman Mark Fox emphasized their historical role as original farmers of the land, contributing to an ancient trade system by growing crops like corn, beans, squash, and watermelons on a large scale.
The tribe plans to invest approximately $76 million in the first phase, which includes a warehouse and other facilities near Parshall. Over the coming years, they aim to expand the greenhouse area to about 14.5 acres, potentially making it one of the largest facilities of its kind globally.
The initial greenhouse will have enough glass to cover the equivalent of seven football fields. Their fertile land along the Missouri River was submerged in the 1950s due to the construction of the Garrison Dam, which created Lake Sakakawea.
Accessing fresh produce has been challenging in the western part of North Dakota where the tribe resides, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The area’s rugged terrain, divided by Lake Sakakawea, requires long drives to reach major cities like Bismarck and Fargo.
