Vertical farm in NJ yielding some yummy, healthy results

The nation's first inner-city "vertical farming" program is well underway in Jersey City, and a group of Head Start students at the Curries Woods housing complex got a first-hand look at some of the early results: collard greens and baby red romaine lettuce.

Mayor Steve Fulop announced the program in July, in conjunction with AeroFarms, the world leader in vertical farming, and the World Economic Forum.

The produce from the vertical farm — city officials have said their will be 10 "farms" across the city — will provide local residents with more healthy options.

The sites will grow 19,000 pounds of vegetables annually using water mist and minimal electricity. The food will be free to the public with the only requirement that residents participate in five healthy eating workshops and agree to quarterly health screening, officials said earlier this year.

The partnership with AeroFarms and the World Economic Forum "will allow us to provide thousands of pounds of locally-grown, nutritious foods that will help close the hunger gap and have an immeasurable impact on the overall health of our community," Fulop said earlier this year.

Click here to read more.

Photo created by prostooleh - www.freepik.com

Source: nj.com