How are we going to feed the global population in a healthy and sustainable way? There isn’t one simple answer to that question, but a  part of the solution might be found in the rising popularity of urban farming. Gotham Greens in NYC grows crops in a rooftop greenhouse, and then turns those greens around and sells them in the supermarket below, a Whole Foods Market. Talk about hyper local!

In the United States, every year, many people are diagnosed with lifestyle-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or obesity. Particularly in food insecure environments, many people suffer from the consequences of an unhealthy diet. Urban farming projects like Gotham Greens help them to add fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet by contributing to the availability of healthy, fresh products.

Viraj Puri, the Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens: “Our mission is to change the food system. We grow leafy vegetables, herbs and lettuce varieties in our high-tech, climate-controlled greenhouses.” Currently there are six Gotham Greens greenhouses in America that sell their products to consumers in the immediate vicinity, and the company plans to expand to multiple locations soon.