Jersey City is partnering with AeroFarms and the World Economic Forum to offer locally-grown greens to its residents. The produce will be provided free of charge as part of the city’s Vertical Farming Program.
“We know diet is a key predictor of life expectancy and the Coronavirus has made clear the huge inequities on food access and food education that exists in different communities,” said Stacey Flanagan, Director of Health and Human Service for Jersey City.
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As part of the program, AeroFarms will build 10 vertical farms throughout Jersey City. The farms will be located in senior centers, schools, public housing complexes, and municipal buildings. The vertical farms will grow 19,000 pounds of vegetables annually using water, mist, and minimal electricity.
Reshaping the diet of Jersey City residents
Jersey City’s Health and Human Service department will operate the Vertical Farming Program. The food will be free to the public with the only requirement being that residents participate in healthy eating workshops and agree to quarterly health screenings. The health screenings will specifically look at blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. There’s no commitment and anyone can sign up or drop out at any time.
Jersey City is one of four cities picked by the World Economic Forum to launch the Healthy City 2030 initiative. Other cities participating in the program include Austin, Moscow, and Mumbai.
“This partnership 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,” said Mayor Steven Fulop.
Newark-based AeroFarms primarily grows micro greens. The Certified B Corporation uses 95% less water than traditional farming. Their non-GMO and pesticide-free greens can be found at Whole Foods, ShopRite, and FreshDirect under the name Dream Greens. They participated in Jersey City’s Yoga Fest 2019.
