Supermarket chain to sell vegetables grown on its roofs

On its 1,200m2 rooftop Carrefour in Villiers-en-Bière installed planter boxes to grow plants, fruits and vegetables.

They are looked after by students from Bougainville agricultural school in Brie-Comte-Robert.

As well as local start-ups the students are responsible for advertising the new products to Carrefour’s customers as well.

The aim is to provide the customers with high quality and environmentally-friendly produce.

The first harvest is set for later this month and the company plans to sell it at prices similar to its organic range.

It is intended that the project will expand to other areas around France, such in Merignac in Gironde (with 6000m2 of plants), in Essonne and at the Carrefour Market in rue de Charonne in Paris.

Carrefour has also signed up to a charter called ‘Objectif 100 Hectares’ with the Mairie de Paris.

The project aims to have 100 hectares of new planting - including vegetable growing – in the city by 2020.