Rooftop Farming Takes Off

Rooftop Farming Takes Off CROPS Miscellaneous With nearly 2 acres under cultivation Gotham Greens’ rooftop greenhouse is the world’s largest The 75 000-sq ft hydroponic system was built atop an existing office/warehouse building on Chicago’s south side With the aid of 50 employees from the neighborhood the company is producing the equivalent of more than 50 acres of conventional fields with 10 percent less water The greenhouse is powered by renewable energy All irrigation water is recycled through the soil-free system A complex system of computer controls and sensors maintain optimum growing conditions Natural pest controls are used for pesticide-free produce The end result is a greenhouse operation that produces more than 50 percent more food with 25 percent less energy than conventional greenhouses Producing food within the densely populated city means produce is delivered to stores and restaurants the same day it is picked In mid-February the company was producing a wide variety of salad greens at the Chicago site Gotham Greens’ three New York City sites include a 20 000-sq ft unit built on the roof of a Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn “Our products are harvested before breakfast so they can be on your plate by lunch ” is a company slogan Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gotham Green Farms 151 E 3rd St Suite 4G New York N Y 10009 www gothamgreens com

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