Koss Family Farms
Koss Family Farms, a third-generation farm in central Illinois, has evolved from traditional corn and soybean production to pioneering aquaponics through their Kountry Fresh greenhouse. By combining aquaculture and hydroponics, they produce vibrant, nutrient-rich greens year-round with minimal inputs and maximum sustainability.
Across Salt Fork Food Works, you’ll find Koss Family Farms greens featured on menus at Martinelli’s, Caprae, Pekara, and Espresso Royale — bringing crisp freshness to sandwiches, salads, and daily specials. Their innovative, eco-friendly approach reflects our shared commitment to fresh, safe, and locally grown food that’s better for both people and the planet.
From the Producer:
Koss Family Farms is a traditional agricultural based farm that has developed the third generation of farmers. We have always farmed corn and soybeans. As agriculture is ever-changing, so are our operations. We decided to dive into our next venture—aquaponics. As population growth and water usage increases in conjunction with the rising cost of fossil fuels, we knew that we needed to find a way to meet the increasing food demands whilst doing so in an eco-friendly and more sustainable way.
Aquaculture was our solution. It is food production at its best. The only outside inputs necessary are the occasional pH balancers, seeding materials for the plants, fish food and 2-5% water replacement that is lost to the plant biology. All needed plant nutrients are converted naturally by microbes and biological processes from the fish excrement.
This process allows us to meet consumer demands for fresh, safe, and locally-grown food along with the need for more efficient and environmentally friendly agriculture. Thus, how our name for our greenhouse came to be. We played on the “K” and “F” from Koss Family Farms and created “Kountry Fresh”. Our greenhouse established at our family farm that’s main focus is creating fresh produce and tilapia.