By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

BELOIT -- One Monroe farm couple is getting their vegetables, lamb, chicken and eggs ready for grocery store shelves.

Rich Horbaczewski and Jackie Gennett, owners of Grass Is Greener Gardens in Monroe, will be opening an organic grocery store in the former Woolworth's Building at 328 State St., Beloit, in May.

"We will know who each farmer is and where each chicken and lamb comes from," Horbaczewski said.

The couple's journey to opening the locally grown food store in the Woolworth's Building has been a long and winding one.

Horbaczewski grew up in Chicago, although his ancestors were Polish farmers. Because his father was a factory worker, Horbaczewski didn't have much farm experience as a child. He worked in marketing in Chicago for 20 years before getting the opportunity to leave the city.

After some changes at his company, the couple started scouting for farms and fell in love with one at W8573 Smoke Valley Road in Monroe. They started growing lettuce, beets, carrots and fresh cut flowers.

Because his wife came from a long line of gardeners, she was successful growing vegetables on the little farm. Horbaczewski did a good job of marketing and selling the products at local farmer's markets.

Horbaczewski admits, however, they had many challenges learning the ropes of farming and made a few humorous mistakes in the beginning. After a few years selling to farmer's markets, however, the couple became more successful and a bit daring in what they grew.

After taking in some sheep and feeding them a special grain mixture, they learned how to raise healthy animals without any medications.

Horbaczewski's outgoing personality kept him in the public eye. After teaching a cooking class at a Whole Foods grocery store, a Madison restaurant began purchasing his lamb. Then the couple decided to add free-range chickens to the farm's offerings.

Because people at the farmer's markets kept requesting more products, Horbaczewski started networking with eight other local farmers to get beef, yogurt and cheese to sell.

"We know a lot of them (farmers) and they trust us," Horbaczewski said.

Horbaczewski travels a route in a van picking up produce and delivering it to the farmer's markets. Soon his van will be transporting food to the Woolworth's Building.

Now Horbaczewski's goal is to help farmers sell what they are good at producing to new, yet regional, markets. Farmers who sign up with Horbaczewski's new store will have to agree to inspections by Horbaczewski.

Horbaczewski said he hasn't decided on a name for his new store yet.

Horbaczewski and Gennett have signed onto a six-year leasing term with intent to purchase the building within the first 30 months.

The city has invested almost $675,000 in the building since acquiring it in 2003, including the cost and maintenance of the building.