A long-vacant plot of land on Fairfax Circle will soon be home to an urban agriculture startup.
Area 2 Farms will be setting up shop at 9571 Fairfax Blvd in Fairfax City by the end of this year, Fairfax City Economic Development announced yesterday (Wednesday).
The company will take the vacant space and, aided by a $25,000 grant from FCED, develop an organic farm within the local community, as opposed to counties away like traditional agricultural endeavors.
“This project perfectly embodies our mission to ‘move the farm, not the food,’ turning an underutilized space into a thriving hub for fresh, healthy produce and community engagement,” Area 2 Farms CEO Oren Falkowitz said.
Co-founded by Falkowitz in 2020, Area 2 Farms “addresses critical issues such as supply chain fragility and lack of transparency in food production,” according to a press release.
“Our farmers are able to grow unique varieties of crops, in nutrient-rich soil, that are not readily found in grocery stores,” the company’s website says.
The community-supported urban farm project is reliant on investors. Those who obtain a farm share, according to its website, will receive a weekly delivery of seasonal produce.
But the Fairfax City location, unlike the company’s farm in Arlington, will also feature a fresh farm stand that accommodates walk-up patrons.
“Our community cares about issues of environmental sustainability and educating consumers about the sources of the foods they eat,” Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read said. “Area 2 Farms brings us a project that aligns with our core values on many levels and is a welcome addition to our city.”
Area 2 Farms has signed a 10-year lease for the property, and “will invest in exterior improvements,” such as a mural that faces Fairfax Circle.
Currently vacant, the lot occupied by a Shell gas station until 2007, when the station closed and underground storage tanks for fuel were removed, according to materials proposing a redevelopment of the site in 2019. The property was sold to a new owner in 2010 but has stayed empty.
The Fairfax City Council approved special exceptions on May 26, 2020 to allow the construction of a one-story retail building, though no specific tenants were announced at the time.
Area 2 Farms filed an application for approval via the Board of Architectural Review in Fairfax City’s permitting portal on Monday (Aug. 11).
