Nourishing Our Food Future
FRESHFARM is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that builds a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the Mid-Atlantic region by producing innovative solutions in partnership with local communities and organizations. We create food access, economic development, and thriving communities through hands-on education, farmers markets, and food distribution programs.
History
Our founders Bernadine Prince and Ann Harvey Yonkers launched FRESHFARM as a public education program of the American Farmland Trust in 1996. The next year, on July 4, 1997, they opened the Dupont Circle farmers market in Washington, DC with 15 farmers from four states selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants.
In 2019 Hugo Mogollon joined FRESHFARM as executive director. As part of Hugo’s new leadership of the organization, FRESHFARM merged with Community Foodworks, a peer organization which Hugo had led for five years, to become the largest farmers market organization in the Mid-Atlantic. Through this merger, FRESHFARM has strengthened our leadership as a regional food system organization, has scaled our reach and impact, and has better integrated the communities we serve into everything we do.
What We Do
Our current food system leaves too many people behind. It prioritizes profit over health and the environment, affecting the livelihoods of farmers, undermining children’s nutrition, and compromising communities’ ability to thrive.
We create systemic change by addressing crucial issues at every level of the food system through transformative programs. In kitchens and in schools, at farms and farmers markets, and across the community, our innovative programs impact the entire regional food system.
Farmers Markets and Farm Stands
Our extensive network of farmers markets and farm stands spans across Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, making us the third largest farmers market organization in the country. Our farmers markets create economic opportunities for farmers and local businesses, fuel local economies, serve as placemakers and community gathering spots, and provide vital food access points available to all. Find a market or farm stand
Food Access
FRESHFARM administers two of the country’s most extensive food access programs. FreshMatch and Produce Plus make fresh and nutritious food affordable for underserved individuals, while generating over a million dollars in additional revenue for local farmers annually. Explore Food Access
Food Distribution
The Pop-Up Food Hub (PUFH) program leverages our farmers markets to unlock wholesale opportunities for small farmers and connect them with underserved individuals and community organizations that are traditionally excluded from the local food system. Explore the Pop-Up Food Hub
Food Education
FoodPrints, our engaging food and nutrition education program, teaches students to grow, prepare, and enjoy fresh, locally-grown foods, while promoting wholesome diets and environmental awareness. FoodPrints hands-on lessons bring science, math, and social studies to life, benefiting families and educators locally and nationwide. Explore FoodPrints
Community Engagement
This work is rooted in the needs and experiences of the communities we serve, ensuring their ownership and well-being. We strive to address systemic discrimination in the food system by enhancing agency and knowledge, fostering community-driven coalitions, and providing technical assistance. Explore Community Engagement