American Food Grow Institute Launches Innovative Fundraising Program on Kickstarter.com to Build Urban Greenhouses

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, March 12, 2012 (Press-News.org) Ever had a fresh, nutrient dense tomato from an urban greenhouse? Probably not, but that is one reason why Phoenix-based American Food Grow Institute (AFGI), has launched an innovative new fundraising program using the Kickstarter.com platform. Following the mission of the AFGI, the institute is looking to raise $60,000 for the completion of a greenhouse building project that will allow the institute to explore new opportunities for feeding the poor in urban areas across the country.

In exchange for pledges toward the $60,000 goal, donors will receive t-shirts, fresh foods, or even a tour of the facilities and a dinner prepared by the founders of the organization.

Says Executive Director Sean Patterson, "The purpose of building the greenhouse is to create a laboratory-like, controlled-environment facility, free of insect infestation where we can grow year-round irrespective of the outside weather. We wanted to develop a program that was fun for participants and helped us keep to our mission of developing new strategies for urban agricultural development. The idea is that the balance of what AFGI distributes to our donors will be made available to the public or to local soup kitchens to feed those in need in our urban areas."

AFGI will be working with Arizona State University's Morrison School of Agribusiness to train students via internships and develop new techniques for maximizing food growing in urban areas.

Says AFGI's Executive Director Sean Patterson, "We welcome the opportunity to work with one of America's top agribusiness schools. Mission of AFGI is to innovate, and few places are better innovators than top universities."

The greenhouse is thought to raise up to 5 tons of fresh produce each year.

To carry out its project, the AFGI will utilize facilities and open land vacant due to the recession and/or available at local faith and community-based organizations. In Tucson, Arizona, AFGI will collaborate with the Vista de la Montaña United Methodist Church and in Phoenix with The Sanctuary Faith Community. The AFGI is currently seeking funding for its first greenhouse to be built in Phoenix.

In addition to growing healthy crop (primarily tomatoes, herbs, wheatgrass, peppers, and lettuce), the AFGI seeks to teach the public how they can grow their own food in a healthy and efficient manner and provide meaningful learning and internship opportunities for K-12 and university agribusiness students, and when possible, employ persons with functional disabilities.

American Food Grow Institute's greenhouse fundraising project is online at:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/americanfoodgrow/american-food-grow-institute-greenhouse-1

The American Food Grow Institute (AFGI) is Arizona based non-profit organization established in 2011 to develop new strategies for indoor, hydroponic, agricultural production. The founders of the AFGI are Kenneth Stephens, a career entrepreneur, qualified risk assessment manager, and insurance agent, Joseph R. Kachuroi, a highly experienced, 20-year professional in the commercial real estate development and hydroponic cultivation industries, and Sean Patterson, graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management and presently principal strategy consultant at Patterson Consulting International, experienced in startups and turnaround management.

American Food Grow Institute is online at http://www.AmericanFoodGrowInstitute.org.