US (NY): Gotham Greens builds world’s first commercial high tech greenhouse on roof of Whole Foods Market

A stunning glimpse into our green future is underway in Brooklyn, NY where Gotham Greens has built a 20,000 sq. foot, state of the art, climate controlled farm on the roof of a local Whole Foods Market. The hydroponic greenhouse requires no soil and can grow the highest quality vegetables all year round—including the dead of winter. A sophisticated computer control system continually measures sunlight, heat, wind, humidity and more—and adjusts the greenhouse accordingly—to ensure optimal growing conditions. The company’s expert farmers grow the freshest and best tasting produce available on the market, year round. And some of the most interesting employees? Resident Bumblebees work seven days a week to pollinate the seven different varieties of tomatoes. If this all sounds very futuristic, that’s because it is—nothing like this has ever been done before.

The new facility is expected to produce 150 annual tons of premium quality, pesticide-free vegetables and herbs. In addition, Gotham Greens is introducing several new varieties of leafy greens, lettuce, tomatoes and herbs.

When compared to conventional agriculture, Gotham Greens' re-circulating hydroponic methods use 10 times less land and 20 times less water. Pesticide use and fertilizer runoff - one of the leading causes of global water pollution - are eliminated. The company's sterile greenhouses and comprehensive food safety program minimizes the risk of food borne pathogens including E coli and Salmonella. By growingly locally, Gotham Greens eliminates the carbon footprint linked to shipping produce long distances. For the consumer, this means the freshest and most nutritious produce imaginable. Often times, the Gotham Greens product consumers find in stores was harvested and packaged that very same day.

"We are dedicated to providing our customers with the freshest and best tasting, hyper-local produce available, year-round. With this new, larger facility—our first on top of an actual supermarket—we’re excited to further disrupt the conventional produce supply chain and contribute even more to the growing local food movement taking root across the country,” explained Gotham Greens co-founder Viraj Puri. “We’re thrilled to be expanding our company in New York and also in other cities with the goal of bringing Gotham Greens’ premium quality, local produce to even more urban communities nationwide.”

“The industry leader in urban farming, Gotham Greens has been a valued local supplier of high quality, flavourful and fresh produce to Whole Foods Market since 2011, making this greenhouse partnership a natural and extremely exciting next step in our relationship,” said J’aime Mitchell, Green Mission Specialist for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast Region. “We’re particularly excited to work with a local organization with roots right here in Brooklyn and a mission—local, fresh, sustainably produced food—that’s very much in line with our own.”

For more information
Gotham Greens
Marie-Louise Sturm
Manager, Operations
80 8th Avenue, Suite 206
New York, NY 10011
T: 212.680.0179
[email protected]

www.gothamgreens.com