The rapid increase in urban populations and urbanization, coupled with the increasing demand for natural resources, has underscored the critical significance of global sustainability. Urban farming has been recognized as a promising solution to address these challenges. Despite the growing popularity of urban agriculture, there is a lack of research on how the built environment and urban micro-climates impact plant growth and food crops cultivated in cities. Our study aims to address this gap in knowledge by investigating how urban climates impact the growth and quality of 'Mosco' chili peppers, a significant crop in the Southwest United States. Peppers were cultivated in four different locations at the CSU Spur research facility in Denver, Colorado, including a ground-level plot, two rooftop areas with varying sunlight exposure, and a rooftop site under a solar panel array. Throughout the growing season, climate data and plant growth metrics were consistently monitored. Post-harvest, we characterized the biomolecular composition of the peppers using standardized methods from the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI). Collectively, the results of this study offer valuable insights into the impact of urban environments to the production and quality of peppers, informing sustainable urban farming practices and enhancing our understanding of plant adaptability in city settings.
