An Orlando urban farm already growing pounds of produce that gets handed out for free celebrated its grand opening this week, looking to spread the word on “cultivating a healthier food system.”

The 4Roots Farm Campus sits on 18 acres in the city’s new Packing District, located west of College Park, and is run by a nonprofit started by local restauranteur John Rivers, best known for his popular 4 Rivers Smokehouse chain.

The farm harvests pesticide-free vegetables — from broccoli to eggplants to tomatoes — and with the opening on of a new education center plans to host classes on growing and cooking healthy foods.

Work is underway on a “food forest,” a quarter-mile walking path showcasing more than 75 edible plants. Next year 4Roots plans to open an event center and a farm-to-table restaurant.

4Roots director Tommy Ward called the campus a “community asset” as community leaders gathered to celebrate the official opening by pulling carrots from a crate instead of cutting a ribbon.

“We encourage all our community members and partners to utilize us as they would any other community place,” Ward said. “We’re here to help move our agenda out and our programs out into these communities,” he said.

“This building represents our shared commitment to cultivating a healthier food system and creating a brighter future for our food, our planet and our community,” he added.

The Packing District is a $700 million development by Dr. Phillips Charities under construction on 200 acres located along Princeton Avenue, Orange Blossom Trail and John Young Parkway. It includes apartments, stores, a YMCA, a food hall and a park, which is home to the farm.

The farm fit with Dr. Phillips’ focus on improving communities, CEO Ken Robinson said.

“We have identified gaps existing in the health of the community and strived to support innovative programs to fill those needs,” Robinson said. “We could not imagine a better organization than 4Roots to partner with to address these needs. The Farm Campus takes a commitment to improving the health and wellness of our community and puts it into action.”

4Roots’ 18,000-square-foot greenhouse is already growing produce that every week is handed out for free to needy residents and is available for purchase by others. In the new education building, Orange County Public Schools, Valencia College and Advent Health, among others, can offer classes.

“The 4Roots Farm Campus was created with a simple yet profound belief that food has the power to transform communities,” Rivers said in a statement. “It’s not just about cultivating crops, it’s about cultivating opportunity.”

Mayor Buddy Dyer called Orlando “the most sustainable city in the southeast” and pointed to 4Roots as an example of the collaborative programs that, in his eyes, earn the city that title.

“This is a key part of our sustainability efforts, getting residents involved in urban agriculture,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of cities in America are doing that, so this is a one-of-a-kind operation that makes sure healthy foods are accessible to every resident here in Orlando.”

The farm’s greenhouse is managed by a full-time staff with help from interns, students and volunteers. 4Roots distributes produce for free through several venues, including its Meet the Need program. Residents can also purchase vegetables through Fresh by 4Roots, a for-profit business.

Rivers said he hopes the 4Roots campus also boosts interest in farming careers.

The country is losing 233 farms a week and the average age of a farmeris 59 years old, he said, so it needs to find ways to bolster the industry.

“If we cannot control the very product that sustains our own health, and we become so dependent on other countries to do so, like we have today, we will be in trouble when things change around the world,” he said. “It’s vital, it’s imperative that we change that narrative and we move it back into our own backyards.”