One of the first supermarkets to grow its produce on a rooftop greenhouse is set to be built this fall. Whole Foods is partnering with Gotham Greens, one of the supermarket’s produce suppliers, to create this unique venue. Gotham Greens is a Brooklyn produce company that focuses on growing produce organically and sustainably. All of their products are pesticide free and grown in greenhouses that operate on renewable energy.
This new venture, though, will make them an even more environmentally friendly company – growing produce right on top of the store where it’s going to be sold! This will completely eliminate the energy usually required to transport the goods from the farms to grocery stores. Even better, the companies both benefit financially as this eliminates the cost of transport as well. The irrigation system for the greenhouse will conserve 20 percent more water than a conventional farm, and environmentally friendly electrical equipment is set to be installed as well. Going to the grocery store and knowing that the fruits and veggies you’re buying were grown just a few feet above you is a really exciting concept, and hopefully it will attract lots of customers to the store’s sustainably grown (and delicious!) produce.
To read more about the project, click here to read the Whole Foods press release: http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/whole-foods-marketr-and-gotham-greens-to-build-nations-first-commercial-sca
Written by Abigail Fagan, class of 2014.