Arugula, Organic

Some farms are built on acreage. Root Down Farm is built on principle.

Located near the heart of Clarence Center, Root Down Farm is a family-owned and operated labor of love, run by Steve and Erin Blabac with the kind of hands-on dedication that only comes from people who truly believe in what they're growing. What started in the spring of 2011 as a modest operation supporting just 50 CSA shares has grown into a thriving enterprise serving 300 members and FreshFix customers — a testament to the trust that the Western New York community has placed in the Blabacs and the food they grow.

The farm itself is a thoughtfully assembled patchwork of leased land spread throughout the Town of Clarence — a creative approach to farming that makes the most of the rich agricultural land this region has to offer. Some of that land is protected by the Western New York Land Conservancy, ensuring that these fields will remain farmland for generations to come. It's a fitting partnership for a farm so deeply committed to the long-term health of the land it works.

At the core of Root Down's philosophy is a firm commitment to clean, responsible growing. All crops are raised without the use of conventional, synthetic, or artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Instead, Steve and Erin rely on the knowledge, patience, and skill that define truly thoughtful farming — carefully rotating crops throughout the season to naturally mitigate pests and disease, maintaining soil health the old-fashioned way, and letting the land work the way it was meant to.

That commitment to doing things right extends well beyond what goes — and doesn't go — into the soil. Root Down Farm has taken meaningful steps to reduce its dependency on natural resources and shrink its environmental footprint. A cultivating tractor has been converted to run on an electric motor, cutting fuel consumption and emissions without sacrificing productivity. Drip irrigation delivers water precisely where it's needed, minimizing waste and conserving one of farming's most precious resources. These aren't just practical decisions — they're a reflection of a farm that thinks seriously about its responsibility to the land, the water, and the community it feeds.

The result of all this care is a diverse, seasonal harvest of vegetable varieties that Root Down customers have come to know and love — fresh, clean, and grown with integrity from seed to share box. In a world where the distance between farm and table keeps growing, Root Down Farm is proof that the most meaningful food still comes from people who know their land, respect their neighbors, and show up every single day to do the work right.