Gigantic Rooftop Farm Announced for Sunset Park

Yesterday afternoon Borough President Marty Markowitz, Mario Batali, and the CEO of Brightfarms, Paul Lightfoot, held a press conference announcing the world’s largest rooftop farm coming to the city-owned Liberty View Industrial Plaza building on Third Avenue in Sunset Park. Brightfarms will open the eight-story, 100,000-square-foot commercial greenhouse in early 2013. “Brooklyn deserves a better tomato,” Lightfood told the crowd, after stressing what an important food destination the borough has become. Yesterday the Post published more details about the garden, saying “the soil-free, hydroponic farm will operate eight stories high — overlooking the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — and grow a whopping 1 million pounds of organic produce annually.” It will supply city restaurants, and Brightfarms is also looking for a grocery store partner. Click through for a rendering of the rooftop garden, via the Post. Also click through to see a picture of Marty Markowitz wearing Crocs, in an act of solidarity with Mario Batali.
Maize the Roof [NY Post]