More Than Five Decades In, Botanical Wellness Leader Marks Next Chapter of Growth with First Tea Produced on the East Coast
ROCKY MOUNT, Va., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Traditional Medicinals, a leader in botanical wellness for over 50 years, today announced that its new $47 million, 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Franklin County, VA, has officially commenced tea production, marking a major growth milestone and the start of a long-term Traditional Medicinals presence in Virginia. The facility, located in Summit View Business Park, is the company’s second manufacturing site, joining its original facility in Sebastopol, CA. The expansion marks the company’s move to bicoastal manufacturing, a shift that supports more efficient, sustainable distribution and positions Traditional Medicinals to meet growing consumer demand for botanical wellness products nationwide.
Traditional Medicinals built the new facility on the skills and trades already in Franklin County, a choice that reflects the company’s deep investment in the community. All major design and construction partners were regionally based, including MB Contractors, Interactive Design Group, ProCon Inc., Jamison Electric, Varney Inc., and Bowman Excavation, and the facility is the first and only tilt-up concrete construction project in Franklin County. Traditional Medicinals applied the same local-first approach to hiring, staffing the facility’s startup entirely with locally hired talent, creating 19 new jobs in Franklin County to date. In keeping with Traditional Medicinals’ commitment to sustainable growth, the all-electric facility uses no on-site fossil fuels, and its four bioswales capture and naturally filter 100% of runoff from the roof and parking areas.
“This is a proud moment for our team and for Franklin County,” said Joe Stanziano, CEO of Traditional Medicinals. “We didn’t just build a facility here — we built relationships, hired locally, and listened to this community every step of the way. This is just the start of what we hope will be a long and mutually rewarding partnership with Virginia.”
The first product run at the new facility is for Throat Coat® Tea, one of Traditional Medicinals’ best-selling products, chosen in part for its local significance: one of its key ingredients, slippery elm, is sourced domestically throughout Appalachia. Traditional Medicinals also supports ongoing research into the slippery elm tree through a partnership with Virginia Tech — another example of the deep community roots the company is building in the area.
The Sebastopol facility will continue operating at full capacity, producing Traditional Medicinals’ full line of more than 60 herbal teas, while Virginia ramps up to produce the same. The Virginia facility’s proximity to East Coast transportation networks will support the company’s ethical sourcing relationships with herb suppliers in over 35 countries while improving distribution efficiency to the East Coast.
Since breaking ground in July 2025, Traditional Medicinals has worked to build lasting ties with the community, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Franklin County, Roanoke Regional Partnership, Friends of Ferrum Park, Appalachian Sustainable Development, Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub, and Virginia Tech. The project is expected to generate over $62 million in economic impact for the region.
“Since we broke ground, it’s been remarkable to watch this site go from an empty field to a working facility, together with this community,” said Steve Bess, plant director of Traditional Medicinals’ Virginia facility. “None of it would have happened without Rocky Mount and Franklin County’s support and collaboration, and we’re proud to call this community home.”
Traditional Medicinals was founded in 1974 on the belief that plants have the power to heal both people and the planet, an ethos that has guided the company for more than 50 years. That commitment to purpose-driven growth carried through to the Virginia project itself, from building greenfield rather than retrofitting an existing site, to staffing the new facility with local talent. As Traditional Medicinals enters this next chapter, its commitment to growing with purpose and intention remains unchanged, with a continued focus on sourcing responsibly, investing in the communities where it operates, and staying true to the values that have built the business for five decades.
About Traditional Medicinals
Traditional Medicinals is the leader in botanical wellness with a purpose to inspire active connection to plant wisdom in service of people and planet. Founded in 1974, Traditional Medicinals is rooted in herbal medicine that includes ethical sourcing and production, and rigorous attention to purity, quality, and sustainability standards. With more than 60 teas, lozenges, and capsules expertly formulated by herbalists, Traditional Medicinals has a deep commitment to both scientific rigor and traditional plant knowledge. Certified as Fair for Life®, Certified B Corporation, California Benefit Corporation, and California Green Business, Traditional Medicinals commits to elevating communities across the globe, helping ecosystems thrive, and fortifying cultural connections. In 2026, Traditional Medicinals earned its spot on the Inc. 5000 list, the company’s first appearance on the annual ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Traditional Medicinals products are available online, and in most grocery and natural foods retailers. For additional information, visit www.traditionalmedicinals.com.
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SOURCE Traditional Medicinals
