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JetBlue Opens Urban Farm at JFK Airport to Feed Passengers and Local Food Banks
JetBlue Opens Urban Farm at JFK Airport to Feed Passengers and Local Food Banks
EcoWatch
Lorraine Chow | October 8, 2015
JetBlue’s Terminal 5 (T5) at New York’s John F. Kennedy is now home to a 24,000 square-foot farm that will provide a variety of fresh produce for the terminal’s restaurants and to local food banks.
According to a report from the Associated Press, “the airline expects to grow 1,000 potato plants, yielding more than 1,000 pounds of spuds every four to six months, along with an additional 1,100 plants such as mint, arugula, beets, garlic, onions and spinach.”
Unlike a traditional crop field, the produce at T5 grow in plastic milk crates inside a structure that’s strong enough to withstand 160 mph hurricane-force winds, a requirement of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the AP reported.
EcoWatch
Lorraine Chow | October 8, 2015
JetBlue’s Terminal 5 (T5) at New York’s John F. Kennedy is now home to a 24,000 square-foot farm that will provide a variety of fresh produce for the terminal’s restaurants and to local food banks.
According to a report from the Associated Press, “the airline expects to grow 1,000 potato plants, yielding more than 1,000 pounds of spuds every four to six months, along with an additional 1,100 plants such as mint, arugula, beets, garlic, onions and spinach.”
Unlike a traditional crop field, the produce at T5 grow in plastic milk crates inside a structure that’s strong enough to withstand 160 mph hurricane-force winds, a requirement of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the AP reported.
AP report~
........"We know people like green space. It's what they have at home. Why not put that at an airport if that's what they love and want?" says Sophia Leonora Mendelsohn, the New York-based airline's head of sustainability. "Your flying experience starts on the ground."
Building a farm at an airport is not simple: It took JetBlue three years to get approval.
Airports are concerned about anything that would attract wildlife, especially birds. That means no growing tomatoes, corn, berries, seeds or sunflowers in its new garden. (The airline originally wanted to grow wheat and use it to make its own JetBlue JFK beer.)
So instead, JetBlue is focusing on potatoes, chives, basil, carrots and other plants deemed safe.
...The project is in partnership with GrowNYC, a non-profit environmental group that focuses on improving New York City block by block. Students will be brought in from local schools to learn about gardening.
Some of the herbs and produce will be used by restaurants in JetBlue's terminal, others will be donated to local food banks....
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8084f70a7c31486090d0321fcf111259/jetblue-plants-seed-farm-tray-table-concept
Building a farm at an airport is not simple: It took JetBlue three years to get approval.
Airports are concerned about anything that would attract wildlife, especially birds. That means no growing tomatoes, corn, berries, seeds or sunflowers in its new garden. (The airline originally wanted to grow wheat and use it to make its own JetBlue JFK beer.)
So instead, JetBlue is focusing on potatoes, chives, basil, carrots and other plants deemed safe.
...The project is in partnership with GrowNYC, a non-profit environmental group that focuses on improving New York City block by block. Students will be brought in from local schools to learn about gardening.
Some of the herbs and produce will be used by restaurants in JetBlue's terminal, others will be donated to local food banks....
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8084f70a7c31486090d0321fcf111259/jetblue-plants-seed-farm-tray-table-concept
Very cool!