Swanky in the News

It was then that Veronnaka’s mom Ronna started talking to her about an aquaponics greenhouse. The more she saw the system, the more she fell in love with it. “I knew a little about aquaponics but had not considered it as a career option.

“I like to joke this was my mom’s idea to keep me here forever!” Veronnaka says. “I feel like it's one of those rare occasions where everything I'm passionate about combines into one business.”

"The plants are in their like perfect environment. They're very happy, they're getting all the water, all the nutrients, the light they could want.

Montana isn’t known for its’ year-round local produce. The harsh winters and short summers can greatly impact growing seasons and deter farmers from planting certain crops. That didn’t stop Billings locals Ronna Klamert and Veronnaka Evenson from pursuing their passion.

"I mean family is everything, if you don't have family, and a healthy family, then, it just it's just dear to my heart that I get to come over here and see her everyday," Klamert said.

“Just seeing how hardworking everybody was made me very passionate about agriculture. And I just can't see it any other way now. I just I love being in here every day and being a part of not only the ag community, but also the restaurant industry here in town as well.”

“My mom’s maiden name is actually Swanke, and when we were starting to talk about this she came up with the idea of Swanky Roots.

“Water is such an important resource and we are using it efficiently to raise both protein and fresh, leafy greens year-round,” she said. “We need this in Montana.”

Frickel said, “What the ladies do at Swanky Roots is not far from what I do in the kitchen. It is a labor of love, and they put a ton of work and passion in growing their lettuce.”

“There are days when I come in and look around, and I just see all the work that has to be done,” said Evenson. “It can be a very lonely job because you’re the business owner. You’re the one doing from top to bottom everything in between.”

These processes are quickly attracting farmers due to their concentrated nutritional and mineral content for plant-growth, reusable water sources, health benefits and controlled growing areas.

“They are fantastic to work with, and we love the staff there," says Veronnaka Evenson, owner of Swanky Roots, a beloved local producer of fresh greens.

“We’ve got an amazing group of producers,” Annika says. “The best word to describe everybody is, they’re just so steady.

“There’s a lot of people that want to support local but have no idea how to do that. We’re educating them on what’s available in our community and how they can have great food that’s been produced right here.”

“I want it to be this place where people can find these local products all together and make it accessible," Evenson said. "I believe in what is going on there. If we didn’t all feel that way, it wouldn’t be happening.”