Philadelphia’s first commercial vertical farm is located in a warehouse in Whitman
Did you know that South Philly is home to the first commercial vertical farm in Philadelphia?
Metropolis Farms operates out of a warehouse at 2409 S. Water St., where they grow produce for grocery stores and restaurants. In just 36 square feet of space, they’re able to grow more than an acre worth of produce.
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“The innovation here is density, as well as energy and water conservation,” said Metropolis Farms President Jack Griffin. “We can grow more food in less space using less energy and water. The result is that I can replace 44,000 square feet with 36 square feet. When you hear those numbers, it kind of makes sense.”
What’s great about indoor farming is avoiding the elements. Harsh sun, pollution and bugs are a big issue in outdoor farming. The few bugs Metropolis gets are counteracted by the carnivorous plants that VP of operationsLee Weingrad genetically modified.
In addition to being the first of its kind in Philadelphia, Metropolis is also the first vertical farm to operate on the second floor of a building and the first vegan-certified farm in the country. This innovative system of farming uses 95 to 98 percent less water and 82 percent less energy than traditional farms. Who would have guessed that the farm of the future is operating out of Whitman?
Check out Metropolis Farms’ website here.
Whitman neighborhood has a lot of potential. It is slower than all the other south philly neighborhoods to catch up with the times, but it’s getting there at its own pace. It’s hard for new buyers to get into the Whitman neighborhood because most residents their are homeowners and refuse to leave their neighborhoods. Still, with its proximity to the Navy Yard and all the traditional amenities already there, I can see Whitman become an up and coming neighborhood as more and more of south philly develops!
Oh yes, it’s such a bother when those pesky longtime residents “refuse” to leave the neighborhood their families have inhabited for generations…
The use of the word “refuse” is interesting. Are these citizens in defiance of some injunction that requires them to evacuate their homes? Have they been evicted, or foreclosed?
“The few bugs Metropolis gets are counteracted by the carnivorous plants that VP of operations Lee Weingrad genetically modified.” Uhm…awesome!!
Angelo Bruno was killed in his car outside of his house not in….