MARQUISE. WELL, 200 FAMILIES ENJOYED A HOLIDAY MEAL THIS WEEK THANKS TO FOUR ROOTS FARMS, THE NONPROFIT JUST WRAPPED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR AT ITS URBAN FARM IN ORLANDO PACKING DISTRICT. WESH 2 NEWS LINDSAY SABLAN SHOWS US HOW THEY’RE INSPIRING HEALTHY, LOCAL EATING HEADING INTO THE NEW YEAR. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THIS GREEN, LUSH FARM IS TWO MILES FROM DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. THIS IS OUR MARKET GARDEN. WE HAD, I THINK, SWEET POTATOES THERE DURING THE SUMMER. THERE’S KALE BACK THERE NOW. SINCE OPENING THIS FARM 15 MONTHS AGO, SONYA PERKINS WITH FOUR ROOTS, SAYS IT’S ONLY STRENGTHENED THEIR MISSION. FOR TEN YEARS. THEY’VE MADE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESSIBLE WITH THE HELP OF THIS SPACE, THEY’RE TEACHING THE PUBLIC WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING LOCAL AND IN SEASON. IT WOULD TAKE YOU ONE ORANGE TO 1980. TODAY IT TAKES EIGHT ORANGES TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO EAT LOCALLY BECAUSE FOOD IS HOW WE SURVIVE. WHILE EATING HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT, ANOTHER BIG FOCUS IS BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD, AND THAT IS DONE HERE WHERE THEY OFFER VARIOUS CLASSES TO THE PUBLIC. WE HOST A FARMER’S MARKET TWICE A MONTH, A FARM TO TABLE EXPERIENCE TO A FLOWER CLASS, ARRANGING CLASS. NICOLE UHLER HELPS GET THE PUBLIC OUT HERE THROUGH VARIOUS PARTNERSHIPS LIKE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. YOU SEE THAT LIGHT BULB? AND THEY’RE LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS, THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND. BUILDING THIS SPACE WITH A GREENHOUSE, GARDEN BEDS, AND OF COURSE, THE FARM RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE ACTION WAS INTENTIONAL. WE ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WASHINGTON SHORES, EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WINTER PARK. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT’S FOR EVERY PERSON HERE IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION, PROVING EATING FRESH DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD. COVERING ORANGE COUNTY. LINDSAY SABLON, WESH TWO NEWS. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS TO KICK OFF
Urban farm 4Roots aims to inspire Central Florida community to eat local
Updated: 5:01 PM EST Dec 25, 2025
Nestled in the packing district off John Young Parkway is an urban farm hoping to inspire the community to eat local. The nonprofit 4Roots was founded in 2015 with a mission to increase access to healthy food and get people to think about how they get their food.Keeyon Upkins, chief financial officer of 4Roots, said the location was intentional.”We are between Pine Hills and College Park. We are easily accessible to Washington Shores, easily accessible to Winter Park. We want to make sure that people know, and as we continue to bring this vision to life, that this is something that’s for every person here in the Central Florida region,” said Upkins. “It doesn’t matter what community you come from, we want to make sure that we are a blessing to you and we are a resource for your needs.”They are doubling down on those efforts to be a resource. This Christmas, they invited 250 families to the farm to experience it and provided them with a holiday meal to take home.Nicole Uler, the strategic partnerships officer, said it’s a way to get people thinking about where and how their food is grown.”We want to inspire the next generation, and honestly, adults as well, that they can have gardens at their home. They can have this experience on a smaller scale,” Uler said.Through the farm, a greenhouse, garden beds and classrooms, they are bringing the farm to the city and hopefully teaching people the importance of eating local and in season.From farmers markets to cooking classes, they have a full lineup of events open to the public.You can learn more here.
Central Florida —
Nestled in the packing district off John Young Parkway is an urban farm hoping to inspire the community to eat local.
The nonprofit 4Roots was founded in 2015 with a mission to increase access to healthy food and get people to think about how they get their food.
Keeyon Upkins, chief financial officer of 4Roots, said the location was intentional.
“We are between Pine Hills and College Park. We are easily accessible to Washington Shores, easily accessible to Winter Park. We want to make sure that people know, and as we continue to bring this vision to life, that this is something that’s for every person here in the Central Florida region,” said Upkins. “It doesn’t matter what community you come from, we want to make sure that we are a blessing to you and we are a resource for your needs.”
They are doubling down on those efforts to be a resource. This Christmas, they invited 250 families to the farm to experience it and provided them with a holiday meal to take home.
Nicole Uler, the strategic partnerships officer, said it’s a way to get people thinking about where and how their food is grown.
“We want to inspire the next generation, and honestly, adults as well, that they can have gardens at their home. They can have this experience on a smaller scale,” Uler said.
Through the farm, a greenhouse, garden beds and classrooms, they are bringing the farm to the city and hopefully teaching people the importance of eating local and in season.
From farmers markets to cooking classes, they have a full lineup of events open to the public.
You can learn more here.