Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Old Town Farmer's Market-Tianguis Cultural team spent the Summer months touring other North American Farmers' Markets. While in Canada, we dove into an issue that is dear to our hearts - the urban farm movement. Simply put, urban farming harvests high quality, good-for-you foods on private, unused land within a city.

For the last three decades, this movement has developed out of response to the rising concerns of food production. According to CityFarmer.org, 50 percent of the world's population has been living in urban locations since 2002.

Societies have woken up to the seriousness of civilization's exploitation of the earth's natural resources. With global climate changes, water pollution, and top soil depletion, practical solutions are needed more than ever.

Urban farming is one of these solutions. It has been wildly successful around the world. So much so that we devoted a few days to check out two urban farms: Sole Food Street Farms in Vancouver and Mason Street City Farm in Victoria.

With four locations throughout Vancouver, Sole Food Street Farms transforms private, unused plots into urban farms. It is managed by Cultivate Canada, a nonprofit organization uniting farming, land stewardship, and community well-being.

Besides producing delicious fruits and veggies, they nurture the human spirit. Inner city residents - many of whom are overcoming addiction or mental illness - work at Sole Food Farms. They play an active role in growing chemical-free produce, which is then sold to restaurants and farmers' markets in the Vancouver area.

According to solefoodfarms.com, "production from these very intensive urban spaces can be 15-25 times higher than more conventional 'open field' farm plantings." In order to maximize their efforts, Sole Food Street Farms uses moveable planters. These wooden boxes yield 20-30 tons of produce a year. Not only does the system save on space and prevent contamination, but it also allows for easy transport. Should a landowner need his valuable property, the staff simply wheels the farm out with a forklift.

The Mason Street City Farm was next on our urban farming itinerary. Tucked in the heart of Victoria's North Park neighborhood, this quarter-acre farm abounds with rows of veggies, herb boxes and honey pots. It even has its own flock of egg-laying chickens.

Started by the Mason family in early 1900s, the farm was like many in the community. With time, the farm took on the personality of its various owners and their earth-friendly interests. But by the late 1990s, the Mason Street City Farm had been abandoned.

Thanks to Angela Moran and Jesse Brown, the farm has been revitalized. Moran, a Niagara Falls native, used her experience as an international WWOOF farmer (volunteers who live on and work on organic farms) to cultivate a working and learning environment. Today, she and Brown teach apprentices how to work the farming system while distributing wholesale products to Victoria's restaurants, farmers' markets and corner grocery stores.

Moran and Brown encourage others to duplicate the Mason Street City Farm model. They want people around the world to realize the benefits of innovative farming methods and social responsibility. The farming duo also details the creation of Victoria's first greenhouse aquaponic system. Over 20,000 liters of water function as thermal mass, extending the Mason Street City Farm's growing season for year-round food production.

Both the Sole Food Street Farms and the Mason Street City Farm impressed upon us the importance of investing in the future of food production. Urban farms are a viable option in Puerto Vallarta, and one that could sustain the health of our community. Our belief in its benefits goes hand in hand with our Old Town Farmers' Market "make it, bake it, grow it" philosophy. We believe in supporting responsible food production. And we encourage you to support those area farmers, markets and restaurants who share a passion for high quality, good-for-you foods.

Be sure to join us as we present the best of Vallarta's producer-only foods and products. Opening day is Saturday, November 2nd.

Located along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas and Ignacio Vallarta, the Old Town Farmers' Market-Tianguis Cultural is open every Saturday from 9:30 am to 2 pm from the first Saturday in November to the last Saturday in May. For more information, visit the Market website at OldTownFM.com, or its Facebook page: Old Town Farmer’s Market Puerto Vallarta.

Click HERE to learn more about the Puerto Vallarta Old Town Farmers' Market.