Farm-to-table, literally: River District putting working farm in the middle of new Charlotte community
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
In Charlotte's River District, developers are integrating a farm into the community, offering fresh produce steps away from homes and promoting farm-to-table living.
Author: Walker Lawson
Published: 8:50 PM EDT September 22, 2026
Updated: 8:50 PM EDT September 22, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As homes and apartments rise across the River District in west Charlotte, developers are also planting the seeds for an unusual neighborhood amenity: a working farm.
The farm is being integrated into the 1,200-acre master-planned community, with the goal of growing fresh produce just steps from where people will eventually live.
“We're trying to integrate a farm into the community life,” River District farmer Eric Schultz said.
Schultz and a team of about five full-time farmers will operate the farm, bringing a literal meaning to the idea of farm-to-table. Future residents could be able to walk out their front doors and see some of their food growing nearby.
“Trying to reconnect people with where their food comes from, so to have houses to my left where at their front door they can see their produce grown….its an incredible opportunity for flavor, nutrient density; it changes the game for what people know as produce and what they normally see in the super market that are produce weeks old,” Schultz said.
Once crops are harvested, they won't have far to travel.
A building next to the farm will be used to prepare produce before it is sold.
“It will go in for processing, cleaning and cold storage before reaching the market,” Schultz said.
A neighboring community center and market will then provide a place for people to purchase the food.
The farm plans to grow a variety of seasonal produce.
“Anything from salad greens, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, all of the fan favorites,” Schultz said.
Plans also include eggs, other locally sourced products and two greenhouses to extend the farm's growing capabilities.
The vision, however, goes beyond selling food. Schultz said the team wants the farm to serve as an educational resource where residents can learn how to grow food themselves.
“Our goal is not only to feed people but to teach people to grow, we believe everyone should grow their own food so that’s a goal of ours,” Schultz said.
The team also hopes the concept can serve as a model for other large residential developments, where amenities traditionally center around features such as pools, clubhouses or golf courses.
“One of our main goals here is suburbia or master plan communities, whether you love them or hate them, they are here but we’re trying to do them better, so instead of just amenities like golf courses or pools’ we think they should all have farms like this,” Schultz said.
The goal is to have the farm producing food by early spring.
As construction continues across the River District, the farm's operators hope the community will eventually be known not only for the homes built there, but also for the food grown alongside them.
