Eco Profiles 2026: Organic Marketplace
The staff of Gastonia’s Organic Marketplace remain deeply committed to the mission of store founder Renee Southard, who passed away in 2025: providing the local community with healthy food in a sustainable way. What began as an 800-square-foot supplement and herb store in 1992 has grown into a 5,000-square-foot healthy food market today.
Sustainability has long been central to the store’s operations. Raised-bed gardens supply the organic restaurant downstairs, the landscape has always been chemical-free and pollinator-friendly, and the store was one of the first in the area to go bag-free more than a decade ago. A bulk section encourages waste reduction by allowing customers to tare their own containers, while solar panels on the roof and ongoing support of Keep Gastonia Beautiful further reflect its environmental commitment.
To continue Southard’s legacy, Organic Marketplace established the Renee C. Southard Award for Emerging Healers in Natural Retail, supporting early-career practitioners through funding for travel and hands-on learning rooted in community and place.
Location: 1012 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia. For more information, call 704-864-0605 or visit OrganicMarketNC.com.
