New Los Angeles Urban Farm Supplies Local Chefs
This Hollywood Hills farm provides microgreens to 30 restaurants as an alternative to common food imports.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Organic Food
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Should the nation prioritize local farmworker labor to ensure a more stable and healthy food supply?
Priti Chowdhury and Jules Leib have converted a four-acre Hollywood Hills lot into an active farm, currently supplying 30 local restaurants with microgreens. This shift in land use aims to support local food production while highlighting labor challenges within the United States agricultural sector.
Why it matters
The farm serves as a localized case study on the aging and shifting demographics of the U.S. labor force, where the average worker is 58. With 60 percent of fruits and nearly 50 percent of vegetables currently imported, projects like this examine the viability of urban agriculture for domestic food security.
Data indicates there are 2.4 million farmworkers in the United States, with an average age of 58 and only 9 percent under the age of 35. These figures provide a baseline for understanding the labor dynamics facing domestic farms that compete with a market where 60 percent of fruit is imported.
The players
Priti Chowdhury
An urban farmer who pivoted from home development to agricultural production at the Mulholland Estate.
Jules Leib
A co-operator of the Mulholland Estate farm who focuses on microgreen cultivation and labor advocacy.
Farmworker Justice
A Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization focused on the rights and safety of the 2.4 million agricultural workers in the U.S.
The details
The farm operates on a four-acre lot at Mulholland Estate, utilizing 6,000 agave plants and 6,000 dahlia tubers to maintain land productivity. To manage the steep terrain, workers navigate the slope by hand, employing 500-foot-long hoses for irrigation. The operation supports seven full-time employees and serves a network of 30 chefs across Los Angeles.
Timeline
2016: Chowdhury and Leib purchased the Hollywood Hills lot.
- 2026-10-26
The farm was highlighted in recent reports regarding labor advocacy.
2028: The planned release date for local agave spirits produced at the farm.
Health Landscape
The project follows the pattern set by the historical trend of domestic agricultural dependence on imported produce. It marks an attempt to shorten supply chains within the Los Angeles food system, contrasting with national trends where roughly half of all vegetables are imported.
Access to locally grown microgreens can increase the nutrient density of your diet by reducing the time between harvest and consumption. While this specific farm offers a local option, readers should focus on seeking fresh, seasonal produce in their own neighborhoods to support regional food systems.
The takeaway
Urban farming models offer a potential, albeit small-scale, solution to the demographic and import-reliance issues facing national agriculture. Consider tracking the availability of locally sourced microgreens or produce at your area farmers market to diversify your personal nutrition sources.
What happens next
Chowdhury and Leib plan to open a new microgreens salad bar near The Grove and release locally produced agave spirits in 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about local food initiatives in Los Angeles Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LA Weekly.
Live Poll
Should the nation prioritize local farmworker labor to ensure a more stable and healthy food supply?
