SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 21, 2015
Once ravaged by the loss of the steel industry, the city of Youngstown is now becoming known for its innovative businesses and efforts at revitalization.
So when Kevin Bachhuber and Jaci Ampulski were looking for a spot to start the first urban cricket farm in the United States exclusively devoted to raising human-grade entomophagical products, it wasn’t a stretch to choose the city.
“Raising insects does not require a lot of specialized skills but it does have the potential to create high paying jobs,” said Bachhuber. “Setting up our operation in an area that is fighting back from economic depression with the potential of bringing good jobs, money and opportunity to the community made sense to us.”
Located at 21A Edwards St., Big Cricket Farms kicked off its operations on Earth Day in 2014. The farm spans 5,000 square feet, all of it used to breed and hatch crickets.
“Sustainability and environmental responsibility are huge concerns for me,” said Ampulski, who serves as director of operations at Big Cricket Farms. “Crickets offer a number of advantages over traditional protein sources like beef since they require a fraction of the food, water and space that cows do.”
