Local Focus

At the Co-op we are proud to carry locally and regionally produced natural products.

We believe the buying and selling of local products benefits us all in many ways:

Buying locally grown foods supports local farmers. Supporting local farmers helps preserve farmland.

Buying local keeps our dollars local, growing our local economy and investing in our community.

Buying local cuts down on pollution and fossil fuel consumption. The shorter the distance from farm to fork, the lower the fuel costs and the environmental impact. Currently in the U.S., about 20% of our entire annual fossil fuel consumption goes to transporting food. That means that for every 1 calorie of food, 10 calories of fossil fuels have been burned.

Local food is fresh food! It is estimated that the average food item travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles before it reaches your kitchen cabinets. In order to mitigate this commute, produce is picked prematurely and then force-ripened in distribution warehouses. Local food, on the other hand, is harvested when it’s ripe, and because of its short route to the Co-op, is more likely to keep its nutritive integrity than food that travels across the continent.

Buying local strengthens the local food system. Nothing spells food security like knowing who grows your food. Locally grown food is easily traceable and accessible.

LOCAL PRODUCTS

We currently carry the following locally grown or produced natural products. We’re always looking to increase our local offerings, so if you are a local producer and would like to sell to us, send us an email.

AmRhein Wine, Bent Mountain VA
Blue Ridge Growers Collaborative, Floyd VA
Brambleberry Farm, Fincastle VA
Brush Creek Buffalo, Riner VA
Café Kelepa, Roanoke VA and Honduras
Cardinal Point Winery , Afton VA
Chateau Morrisette, Floyd VA
DelFosse Winery, Farber VA
First Colony Winery , Charlottesville VA
Gary’s Ripple Chips, Roanoke VA
Gunther's Gourmet, Richmond VA
Homestead Creamery, Wirtz VA
Little Blue Woman Candles, Floyd VA
Malu Aina Farm, Ferrum VA
Meadow Creek Dairy, Galax VA
Murray Cider Company, Roanoke VA
New River Brewing Company, Ashburn VA
North Mountain Winery , Maurertown VA
Price’s Piece Soap Salem, VA
Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet VA
The Switch, Richmond VA
Valhalla Winery, Roanoke VA
Villa Appalaccia, Floyd VA
Walker Mountain Goat Cheese, Pearisburg VA
Waterbear Mountain Farm, Floyd VA