Climate change, labor shortages, growing population, cost, mobility and transport, carbon emissions, and land scarcity are impacting how we gain access to nutritious foods. Recently, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has arisen as a new method of local food production that has the potential to provide a range of benefits in urban areas. CEA is an innovative approach to growing fruits and vegetables in greenhouses or vertical farms, where growing environments can be optimized to increase crop productivity and quality and consumers benefit from year-round locally grown produce. The potential benefits from an active and dynamic CEA industry in the New York Metropolitan area–and other urban centers-include decreased reliance on transportation over long distances, year-round provision of fresh produce, job creation and economic development, and an ability to enhance food security through co-location of CEA’s within or adjacent to communities that are at risk.