Causes: Economic Development, Environment, Environmental Education, Farmland Preservation, Food, Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, Urban & Community Economic Development

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 families, and innovative food education programs that build healthier communities.

Results: In 2019 we accomplished the following:-Our network of 240 farmers and food producers earned over $15 Million collectively at our markets. -The FoodPrints education program served 5,800 students at 15 DC Public Schools. The FoodPrints curriculum features more than 100 unique, age-appropriate lessons and engages more than 800 community volunteers each year. -The Pop Up Food Hub delivered fresh, nutritious food to 52 community organizations, that reach more than 1,250 toddlers, 250 seniors, and 100 low-income families. -The Fresh Match program matched $130,000 in food benefits for federal nutrition benefit shoppers.

Target demographics: Farmers and food producers in the Mid-Atlantic region, DC Public School students, federal nutrition benefits shoppers, those interested in fresh, local food, Washington, DC area residents.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 240 local farmers and food producers, 5,800 DCPS students, 500,000 market shoppers, 52 community organizations

Geographic areas served: Washington DC, VA and MD

Programs: Farmers Markets: We operate about 30 markets across the DC area, representing 240 farmers and food producers from across the Mid-Atlantic region. Our markets are producer-only and prioritize local sourcing. FoodPrints: We partner with 15 DC Public Schools to bring cooking and nutrition curriculum, teaching kitchens, school gardens, and scratch-cooked cafeteria lunches to thousands of FoodPrints students. We use an academic approach to teach students how to grow, harvest, cook, and enjoy fresh, healthy foods. Food Access: The Pop Up Food Hub program leverages farmers markets to deliver fresh, nutritious food to under-served communities. We place wholesale orders with our participating farmers, pick up the order at markets, and deliver the produce to wholesale customers, transforming the farmers market into a platform to connect local producers to new and nontraditional wholesale opportunities. The Fresh Match program matches what shoppers spend at market when they use their federal nutrition benefits, empowering low-incomeresidents to buy local produce while providing additional revenue for local farmers and food producers. Farmer Support: With a network of over 240 farmers and producers from across the Mid-Atlantic, we’re working to support the economicsustainability of small-scale farming. We assist our farmers and producers in accessing resources to help them grow their businesses and develop skills necessary to continue farming and coming to market year after year.