Le Roots Premium Urban Farm: Tampa, Florida

Meet Le Roots Premium Urban Farm in Tampa

Fresh food doesn’t have to start miles from the city. Le Roots shows how a local growing operation can connect directly with the people and businesses around it.

The farm describes its produce as pesticide-free and puts sustainability at the center of its approach. For customers, the appeal is easy to understand: knowing where their food comes from and who grows it.

The People Behind the Plants

Founders Zack and Christina Alvarez have deep roots in Tampa. Their farm brings that local connection into the food they grow, building relationships with customers close to home.

Growing Up: Vertical Farming at Le Roots

Le Roots uses aeroponic and hydroponic growing systems. Rather than spreading every plant across a traditional soil bed, vertical towers arrange growing spaces upward.

The farm also highlights rainwater harvesting and natural sunlight as part of its approach. These choices make resource use part of the farm’s planning, alongside crop quality and customer needs.

Thinking about a similar project? The setup needs to suit your site. Available light, growing space, water supply and the crops you want to sell all belong in the conversation before you choose your equipment.

Fresh Produce for Tampa Bay’s Culinary Scene

A great salad starts long before it reaches the plate. Le Roots connects local growing with local kitchens, giving chefs a nearby source of fresh produce.

According to Le Roots, the farm supplies more than 100 local restaurants. Its chef-focused approach is a useful reminder for aspiring growers: find out what your customers need before filling your farm with your own favorite crops. A beautiful harvest is even better when there’s a kitchen ready to use it!

From Farm to Aquarium

Restaurant diners aren’t the only ones enjoying these greens. In November 2023, The Florida Aquarium announced a partnership with Le Roots to source kale and romaine for its herbivores, including tortoises, sloths and lemurs.

The announcement also described produce grown for the Aquarium’s Café Ray. It’s a memorable example of how an urban farm can serve more than one kind of customer—even a few with shells and tails.

Read The Florida Aquarium’s partnership announcement →

Inspired to Start Your Own Tower Farm?

Le Roots offers plenty of inspiration, but your own farm should start with your own goals. Are you supplying restaurants, serving a community or growing for an organization?

Before deciding how many towers you need, work through a few practical questions:

• Who will use your harvest? Identify your customers and the crops they want.
• Where will you grow? Review space, light, water, power and access.
• Who will run the farm? Plan for planting, crop care, harvesting and cleaning.
• What will it cost to operate? Include labor, supplies, utilities, packaging and delivery.

Living Towers can help you explore a Tower Farm system around your space and production goals. Tell us about your project, and let’s talk through where to start.

Looking for Le Roots produce or information about the farm itself? Visit Le Roots’ official website for its current offerings and contact details.