It’s summer 2010 – you’re turning up California Gurls on your iPod. Inception blew your mind. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have just hoisted their 16th NBA Championship trophy. And Nora Lea has taken matters into her own hands.
Local Gwinnett mom Nora Lea, was trying to feed her family better but continued to feel frustrated with inconsistent quality and the exorbitant costs of organic produce in local supermarkets. Realizing there were others in her community trying to do the same, she created a co-op buying club in her Suwanee garage.
“When I originally started the co-op buying club, my goal was simple: I wanted to connect local families with clean, sustainably grown food they could trust,” said Nora. “The co-op allowed us to pool our orders to support small farms and producers directly, making nutrient-dense food more accessible and affordable. That mission of connection – between growers, makers and our community – has stayed at the heart of everything we do.”
After a few moves necessitated by growth, the co-op rebranded as Living Well Farmers Market and Nora opened her storefront in Suwanee Town Center in March 2020. This was a difficult time for the storefront to open but they were able to become a lifeline for the Suwanee community, staying stocked with fresh and organically grown food and offering curbside pickup and delivery options. Nora shared, “It’s not just about nutrition, it’s about sustainability, fair labor, animal welfare and community resilience. Every dollar spent on thoughtfully grown food is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. It’s amazing the big difference a small community can make together!”
Living Well Farmers Market sells products that are antibiotic-and hormone-free with a priority towards natural and chemical-free cultivation. You also won’t find any MSG, nitrates or GMOs here. From fresh local produce and ginger shots to health products (like delicious date syrup to top your ice cream with) and skincare, you’ll find no shortage of quality products to choose from! “Food connects us to each other, to the earth, and to our health. When people know who grows their food and how it’s raised, it fosters a deeper sense of relationship, responsibility, and care,”
The Suwanee Town Center storefront is open Monday through Saturday and is open for anyone to shop at. You can also become a member to access a pre-order option. Unique from other co-ops and buying clubs, members can customize their boxes, simplifying weekly meals. A $25/month household fee allows members to order what they want, in the quantities that they want and from the farms that they want.