A huge demand can be seen all over the world when it comes to locally grown produce. Restaurateurs and their clients alike are joining hands with food consumers at home who all want to know the story behind the produce. Food conscious customers began with a growing social movement that has evolved and has more and more people looking into the advantage of buying produce locally.
These consumer groups have several reasons for wanting to do so. Some of their reasons are to support the local farmers, to know where their food is coming from and to ensure respect for the environment. People want to support their local economy, leaving less carbon footprints behind and want to know more about the growing options farmers are now developing and using. The whole green movement includes many growing possibilities when it comes to alternative farming. Today we will investigate Urban Farming. Urban farming is gaining popularity even though the costs of building and producing is significantly higher than traditional greenhouses. One of the reasons is the shade problem. Shaded areas require more artificial light thus jamming up the electricity bill all year round.
Limited plot size and the more expensive land prizes are certainly a huge contributing factor. Most of Urban farming is materialized into greenhouses instead of plots of land. This enables them to build on rooftops and in already existing buildings. Vertical farming, hydroponics and aqua ponics are often combined and used in Urban farming. Thanks to the fast development of growing lights technology, greenhouses can up production under glass. There is no doubt that the produce farmed in Urban Greenhouses comes with a higher price tag than traditionally farmed produce.
Due to these higher cost Urban greenhouses rely on their niche products and niche markets that allow them to cover additional costs. Producing micro greens and other specialized varieties of vegetables to deliver to high end restaurants in the city and not to forget high end supermarkets, is certainly what they aim for and is another way to help to cover the additional costs. Consumers living in the big city with higher incomes can and are willing to support locally grown produce as they see the environmental value of eating local; making Urban Agriculture a growing trend and a trend that leaves a less footprint and a better place for the next generation.
