In a warehouse in Tetouan, Spain, miles away from any farmland, arugula and aromatic basil are cultivated indoors. It has been a few months since Isifarmer landed in an old gymnasium, which has been transformed into a vertical farm seeking urban farmers to further develop its model.
Ángel Leo-Revilla and Marcos Enríquez are two business partners who want to demonstrate that it is possible to develop this type of farming model without resorting to mega facilities, which bring benefits to the community and the commercial fabric of the neighborhoods.
For the moment, this start-up has concentrated on supplying about thirty microgreen varieties, including basil, arugula, Chinese radishes, and various types of wheat and mustards.
"We started growing microgreens given their quick turnaround, as they are ready for consumption within 10-12 days, allowing us to learn quickly. From there, we will move on to snack-type vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, or strawberries, and the next phase will be to address leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, endive or spinach," says Ángel.
On top of that, he emphasized that they will always be eyeing high-quality products that can be sold at a higher premium. Isifarmer targets fruit shops or small neighborhood stores looking for a different product, but also restaurant and home delivery distributors.
Read the entire article at Tetuán 30 Días (in Spanish)