Roanoke Natural Food Co-Op prepares to open urban farm - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

Roanoke Natural Food Co-Op prepares to open urban farm

Beyond the industrial buildings off 460 in Roanoke City, is a hidden treasure. An urban farm, one of the newest additions to a local business; Roanoke Natural Food Co-op.

"For  35 years we have been grocers and we are going to continue to be grocers," says Director of Marketing John Bryant.

Back in October, city council approved selling 17 acres of land to the co-op for five years. In 6 months farm manager Sean Jordan has set up the greenhouse and planted seeds for their first harvest this spring.

"We also grow spinach, kale. Some things take several years to get established fruit trees so we will be planting fruit trees, but you won't be able to get an apple for five years, "says Jordan.

Chickens now call this place home, and will start laying eggs soon. Bryant expects to have the farmers market open by April to start selling food, and adds the location couldn't be any better for their business.

"We are going to invite other farmers down. we see as a good opportunity the industrial park up the hill has 2,000 employees it is certainly use a farmers market," says Bryant. 

Bryant adds their growing business is great for them. It is shows how successful local businesses are in the star city.

"We contributing back to the economy and the message the city wants to get across that we have viable business going on and now that includes an urban farm," says Bryant.

Adding anything is possible, especially in the star city. It sometimes takes just looking out of the box or building.