Keri Aivazis Highlights Benefits of Urban Farming, Supporting Local Agriculture

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 30, 2013

Keri Aivazis, co-owner of Urban Radish in Los Angeles, understands just how important it is for communities to support locally-grown produce and other food items. But for individuals living in large, densely populated cities, finding the space to engage in agricultural activity can prove a major difficulty. Advocates of locally grown produce, though, have taken on this challenge and developed what is referred to as rooftop farming. This particular type of farming repurposes unused rooftop spaces as greenhouses, allowing individuals to grow fresh fruits and vegetables even in some of the most urban of environments. A recent article published by CBS highlights the increased popularity of urban farming in New York City. Aivazis has commented on this trend and encourages individuals who are interested in getting involved with local agricultural practices to do so.

According to the article, "Urban farmers say this type of farming is much more productive for the environment, cutting out greenhouse gas emissions, transportation costs, while the food remains fresher and has a longer shelf-life, not to mention making use of space that would otherwise remain under-utilized." Additionally, the article explains, the ability to maintain optimal conditions within rooftop greenhouses and to shield crops from environmental catastrophes, such as drought or flooding, makes this type of farming highly productive.

Sustainable farming practices are going to become even more important than they already are as the world's population grows. Not only does supporting local farming help individuals to access healthier food items, it limits the impact that their eating habits have on the environment by reducing transportation and other costs. Ultimately, creating a sustainable food source that can support the needs of the growing population is necessary--and many individuals believe that urban farming is the solution, or at least part of it.

"I am very excited by the developments in urban farming and am monitoring them with great interest," comments Keri Aivazis. "In Los Angeles, there is plenty of abandoned industrial space and unused rooftop real estate that could be used for this purpose. Los Angeles has one of the best climates for growing produce in the country and, through larger scale implementation of urban farming programs, the city could create transformational change that better provides for underserved areas within its borders. It would have the benefit of reinforcing locally grown food items as well as bringing jobs and fresh produce to inner city neighborhoods that desperately need them."

Individuals who have space that can be used for urban farming are encouraged to get into contact with organizations that support this practice. Additionally, consumers are urged to seek out locally grown produce and other food items in order to support sustainable agriculture and their local economies. Anyone who is interested in learning more about urban farming is encouraged to reach out to local organizations and other resources, such as books, to become more knowledgeable about this practice. Keri Aivazis hopes that the attention this trend is getting will allow it to attract the interest of more individuals and, ultimately, become a mainstay of the agricultural economy.

ABOUT:

Keri Aivazis is the co-owner of Urban Radish, which is a farm-fresh grocery store located in the Arts District of Los Angeles, California. A veteran of the food services industry, Aivazis is passionate about the farm-to-fork movement and about building a community of local farmers, agriculturalists, and consumers.