Mission

FRESHFARM is a nonprofit that promotes sustainable agriculture and improves food access and equity in the Mid-Atlantic region. We operate producer-only farmers markets that provide vital economic opportunities to local farmers and food producers, pioneering food distribution programs that increase food access for low-income communities, and innovative food education that builds healthier communities.

What We Do

Farmers Markets: In 2019, FRESHFARM merged with Community Foodworks to become the largest farmers market organization in the Mid-Atlantic, and the third-largest in the country. Last year, our 27 markets resulted in $16 million in revenue for 240 farmers and local food producers. More than $400,000 were spent in food benefits and vouchers by low-income residents at our farmers markets to access fresh, local produce, including more than $120,000 in matching dollars.

FoodPrints: an education program that partners with 15 DC Public Schools to bring nutrition and culinary education, teaching kitchens, school gardens, and scratch-cooked cafeteria lunches to 5,800 students.

The Pop-Up Food Hub (PUFH): an innovative, low-infrastructure model of local food distribution that utilizes the farmers market space as a temporary hub to sort, pack, and then deliver healthy, local food to over 65 institutions that serve thousands of low-income individuals at an affordable wholesale cost. This program has doubled year-over-year since 2017, and has a vision to make farm-to-childcare universal in DC and provide seamless integration of healthy produce for healthcare partners.

Market Share: a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that increases healthy, local food access to low-income communities by delivering weekly bags of healthy, local produce to convenient pick-up sites subsidized for people receiving SNAP, WIC, and senior benefits at a 75%-90% discount. In 2019, we delivered 7,121 Market Shares, saving $45,658 for low-income families.