Cash Crops Under Glass and Up on the Roof

New York Times;(Late Edition (East Coast)).; New York, N.Y.: May 19, 2011.  pg. B.5

This article discusses the seemingly sudden convergence of intelligent design, hydroponic technologies, greenhouse structures and consumer desire for fresh, locally produced organic vegetables.  A local entrepreneur in Canada created a 30,000 square foot greenhouse on a buildings vacant roof.  Lufa Farms is now selling directly to consumers through their new co-op in Montreal, Canada.

The article discusses similar designs including vertical gardens being developed in skyscrapers.  Another farm built a greenhouse on a grocery store roof in order to sell produce below.  This provides fresh produce and reduces spoilage and transportation costs.  For example;

TerraSphere, a unit of Converted Organics with offices in Surrey, British Columbia, and Boston, designs and builds vertical farm systems and sells its lettuce and spinach through Choices Markets, an organic grocery chain in western Canada.

The critical question becomes whether they can be profitable.  The cost for greenhouse construction on a roof can be $1-$2 million per acre while the operation and maintenance can be considerably less.  Greenhouses do not require tractors or heavy equipment to farm, nor do they need as much fertilizers and pesticides.  The hydroponic systems function without any soil at all.  Currently, New York city is estimated to have 14,000 acres of rooftop space available for farming, which could grown enough produce to feed as many as 20 million people.

BrightFarms has contracted with supermarkets to build multiple greenhouses.  They found with the higher gas costs that the greenroofs' produce usually requires little or no travel.  The reduced travel often drops prices 50%.   Thus, the CEO of BrightFarms, Paul Lightfoot, anticipates "$100 million in revenues by the end of 2015 and $1 billion by the end of 2020."