The Living Produce Aisle is an innovative retail space where customers can purchase freshly cut herbs, microgreens, and sprouts.
On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend a preview event for the grand opening of the Living Produce Aisle situated in the Gastown area of Vancouver, BC.
A new way to get our greens
Sandwiched between a pizzeria and a pastaria (oh, the carbs!), the Living Produce Aisle, which opens to the public on Saturday, October 6, is an innovative retail space where customers can purchase freshly cut herbs, microgreens, and sprouts. What’s so great, though, is that these greens are actually grown in-house, using specially designed appliances from the local company Urban Cultivator.
Twenty commercial-sized Urban Cultivator units line the walls of the Living Produce Aisle, featuring sprouted seeds that I didn’t even know could be sprouted (flax?), as well as the usual suspects, such as basil, arugula, and wheatgrass. In addition to purchasing cut-to-order greens, the Living Produce Aisle will also be selling green smoothies, wheatgrass shots, and a locally inspired salad created by Four Seasons Executive Chef and Urban Cultivator Corporate Chef, Ned Bell. Let me just say, “yum.”
Local is better
Tarren Wolfe, founder of the Living Produce Aisle and Urban Cultivator, has big plans for sharing the benefits of both hydroponic growing and the locavore philosophy. His thought is this: why purchase imported greens and herbs when you can grow them at a fraction of the monetary and environmental cost? When it comes to the Living Produce Aisle and Urban Cultivator, it really doesn’t get more local than this.
As advocates of the local food movement, we at alive are excited about getting an Urban Cultivator unit of our own, for use in our test kitchen where we cook and photograph all the recipes found in the Food section of the magazine.
Get fresh, local greens in your house
Live in the Vancouver area? Stop in and say hi to Tarren and his team, located at 66 East Cordova. For everyone else, consider growing your own microgreens at home (it’s really quite easy), or consider investing in the Urban Cultivator Home unit.
We’ll also be giving away an Urban Cultivator Home unit to one lucky reader, so keep an eye out for your chance to win!
For more information on the Living Produce Aisle and Urban Cultivator, check out their website and Facebook page.
Photo of Urban Cultivator Corporate Chef, Ned Bell, and founder, Tarren Wolfe.
