Shenandoah Growers Prepares for Thanksgiving

Most grocery stores are busy as people prepare to make their Thanksgiving meals, and one of the things in high demand is herbs.

According to Shenandoah Growers in Rockingham County, this time of year is like the Super Bowl for the herb industry.

Timothy Heydon, the CEO for Shenandoah Growers, said the company started their indoor farming technique in Rockingham County. Now they are in 23,000 supermarkets throughout the United States and are represented in all 50 states. The indoor farm allows them to grow crops without having to deal with the uncertainty of the weather.
“We can grow more consistently,” Heydon said, “and we can have a much higher yield.”

According to Heydon, the indoor farm can take 100,000 acres of farmland and use 100,000 square feet, which make it more sustainable.
Heydon said this is the busiest time of the year for the farm.
“All of our people are working literally around the clock to get the product packed and out to the supermarket and the shelves so everyone can enjoy a fresh product for Thanksgiving,” Heydon said. “We have a very high demand for things like rosemary, sage, thyme, poultry blend and really all of the herbs.”