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City Roots investing $4.4 million in expansion

Melinda Waldrop //July 13, 2022//

City Roots investing $4.4 million in expansion

Melinda Waldrop //July 13, 2022//

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Columbia urban farm City Roots, which grows microgreens like the ones pictured above, is investing $4.4 million to expand its Richland County operations. (Photo/File)

Columbia urban farm and agribusiness City Roots is investing $4.4 million in an expansion expected to create 60 jobs in the next five years.

Established in 2009, City Roots is a sustainable farm that produces fresh, organic vegetables for restaurants, chefs, grocery retailers and food distributors across the Southeast. The expansion will involve a relocation from City Roots’ current site at 1005 Airport Blvd. to 1630 Longwood Road.

“City Roots is excited to expand its organic farm and greenhouse production in Richland County,” co-founder Eric McClam said in a news release. “The new facility will be highly efficient, sustainable and will continue to employ and feed people here in our local community.”

The expansion, expected to be completed by next spring, will allow City Roots to create a microgreen-integrated production facility and will feature a solar farm to provide energy to the new facility, according to the release. The expanded operation will also include a state-of-the-art greenhouse that will be open for agricultural tours and workshops for new and beginning farmers.

"City Roots has left a wonderful impact on the Richland County community with its locally grown products going to restaurants and grocery retailers that serve our residents’ food needs,” Richland County Council Chair Overture Walker said. “Council is pleased to see this family-owned business invest in new facilities and is excited for the additional growth and jobs this investment will bring.”

Employment information is available on the company’s contact page at https://cityrootsfarm.com/pages/contact-us.

“Since 2009, City Roots has been connecting South Carolinians to farming while also flourishing as an agribusiness,” S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said. “This next step in their development is a great step for the microgreen industry and for South Carolina. We’re proud of this homegrown talent.”

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