Wholesale Produce-Supplying Central Virginia
The Sweet Briar College Greenhouse supplies produce grown by our students to restaurants, retirement facilities, private schools, and regional distributors in the Lynchburg area and beyond.
If you are part of a business or institution interested in purchasing bulk quantities of lettuce, herbs, or other produce items wholesale from the greenhouse, please contact Sweet Briar College Greenhouse Facility & Hydroponic Operations Manager, Amanda Keller at sbcproduce@sbc.edu or call 434-381-0073.
You can find our produce at the following restaurants and caterers:
- Bonfire, Amherst, Va. (lettuce, herbs)
- Isabella’s, Lynchburg, Va. (basil)
- Peakland Market and Catering, Lynchburg, Va. (lettuce)
- Avenue Foods Catering, Lynchburg, Va. (lettuce)
Community Engagement: Markets and Tours
We host twice-weekly pickups for our Community Supported Agriculture subscription program and a preorder-based market at our greenhouse most of the year. Please contact Dr. Powell at lpowell@sbc.edu to be added to our “Greenhouse Fans” email list to receive information about these produce purchasing opportunities.
Aside from pickups during our market, the greenhouse is generally not open to the public. Groups interested in tours should contact Dr. Powell about availability. We typically organize tours 1-3 months in advance.
Student Involvement
Students have many pathways to involvement in the greenhouse. They may enroll in a one-credit hands-on course (Ag Operations) dedicated to learning about greenhouse operations; other classes across the curriculum also integrate the greenhouse into their labs and problem-based learning activities. For those students seeking even more involvement, they may choose to pursue a capstone or research project involving the greenhouse. Additionally, there are paid agriculture and greenhouse assistant positions; these student workers help with the day-to-day operations of the structure, including planting, harvesting, and tending crops. Taking Ag Operations is a prerequisite to apply for these positions. Students interested in getting involved should contact Dr. Powell.
YOU Can Study Agriculture at Sweet Briar College!
Learn more about the Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Certificate Program
In October 2022, Amyrose Foll and the Virginia Public Broadcasting team visited with Dr. Lisa Powell in our 26,000 square-foot greenhouse to learn about our student-centered hydroponic and soil-based production systems.
