Sustain SC Members Empower Local Farm to Surpass Sustainability Milestones
Branham Group, HRP Associates and Atlantic Packaging Help City Roots Set a New Standard in Sustainable Farming
In January 2023, City Roots and Sustain SC member, the Branham Group, embarked on a one-and-a-half-year project to achieve net-zero energy usage for City Roots’ local farm. With the help of Sustain SC members HRP Associates and Atlantic Packaging, the farm not only met these goals, but achieved other sustainability benefits too.
City Roots is a family-owned, USDA-certified organic farm in Columbia that produces a variety of microgreens. Originally established as South Carolina’s first urban farm in 2009 on eight acres, it has now expanded to 90 acres. City Roots products, like arugula microgreens, mustard microgreens, radish microgreens and several other mixes, can be found in major grocery stores throughout the Southeast.
With its mission to produce environmentally friendly products and a growing emphasis on sustainability in the agriculture sector, City Roots decided to make significant investments in infrastructure and equipment to become more self-sufficient. Branham Group, a leader in renewable energy and sustainable construction, was equipped to help City Roots meet their goals. Acting as the design and construction manager for City Roots, they were able to bring City Root’s requirements from concept to completion.
“The success of City Roots is proof that sustainability works for companies small and large in South Carolina,” said Jarrett Branham, President of the Branham Group. “Voluntarily becoming a more sustainable farm was the right thing to do because it is the most efficient way to operate, and quickly becoming a requirement to meet their customer’s vendor prerequisites. During the project, City Roots was also able to share sustainability achievements with their customers which led to new business.”
The Branham group brought in HRP Associates to conduct site-wide phase one assessments, checking for potential environmental risks, contaminations and other liabilities. After determining the that the project was feasible, the group began to design solutions addressing City Roots’ main pain points.
“Sustain SC’s and Furman University’s Sustainability Leadership Initiative (SLI) helped HRP build trust and connections with a wide array of sustainability leaders throughout the state,” said Jackie Baxley with HRP Associates. “This broad network of experts opened the door for us to join the City Roots project.”
There were also several challenges the team overcame together, including increased energy costs, pressure from national clients to meet CO2 emission reductions goals and the farm’s reliance on fossil fuels. Together, the team implemented the following measures:
High-efficiency lighting and controls to cut energy demand by 50%.
Solar power (PV) installation on several acres to meet energy demand, including during peak usage and seasonal variations.
Geothermal systems to provide energy-efficient climate control in both the winter and summer months.
Greenhouse control systems, including retractable roofs and walls with shade curtains to ventilate excess heat and humidity.
“There is always a risk associated with a novel idea, and our geothermal energy systems were the first of its kind on the East Coast,” explained Eric McClam, co-owner of City Roots. “Though it was over budget, it has completely eliminated our need for natural gas and paid for itself.”
Another key player in this collaboration was Atlantic Packaging. The company provided post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging for City Roots that used 35% less plastic and extended the shelf life of the microgreens through lasered micro-perforations. Known for its commitment to sustainability, Atlantic Packaging made a significant difference in the farm’s carbon and plastic footprints, and City Roots was thrilled to work with a business with similar values.
This initiative exemplifies Sustain SC’s mission. Through collaborative efforts, City Roots improved both its bottom line and sustainability efforts, proving that environmental success can be achieved without compromising business practices.
“We’re the direct beneficiary of a group like Sustain SC,” said McClam. “Without an organization like Sustain SC, small-scale businesses like us might not connect with companies equipped to overcome our challenges cost-effectively.”
While the original goal was net-zero energy usage, City Roots has found that their investments have done more than offset their emissions and will continue to deliver long-term operational cost reductions. Onsite energy production and improved packaging increased its production yield and exceeded the national retail vendors’ requirements.
“We hope this project inspires other farms and industries to pursue meaningful sustainability efforts,” said Branham. “City Roots’ success shows that environmental sustainability and business growth can go hand in hand. We look forward to continuing our partnership as they continue to flourish.”
Learn more about this impactful project through this case study.
