Arcadia Food Inc

TO CULTIVATE VIBRANT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS THAT PRIORITIZE HEALTH, EQUITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY, FROM THE FARM FORWARD.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: GROWING THE SUPPLY OF RESPONSIBLY GROWN, AFFORDABLE FOOD & THE NUMBER OF SUSTAINABLE FARMERSOVER 35,000 POUNDS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES HARVESTED49 TYPES OF CROPS AND OVER 80 DIFFERENT VARIETIES GROWN~141,000 FRUIT/VEGETABLE SERVINGS HARVESTED~$55,400 IN WHOLESALE VALUETHE CLOSE OF 2021 MARKS THE END OF THE 11TH SEASON FOR THE HILLTOP FARM AND THE SIXTH SEASON FOR OUR PRODUCTION DOGUE FARM. AS A TEAM, WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH CONSIDERING THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH DEEPLY IMPACTED THE FARMS ACTIVITIES. THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HOSTED WAS GREATLY DIMINISHED AND NEW PROTOCOL HAD TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF SPREADING COVID THROUGH THE EMPLOYEE AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY (FACE MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND MORE FREQUENT HAND WASHING). WE PLANTED NATURAL WINDBREAKS IN THE FORM OF SUNCHOKES, UNDERPLANTED WITH SORREL; WE ESTABLISHED A NEW STRAWBERRY FIELD FOR SPRING PRODUCTION FOR THE MOBILE MARKET. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH VETERAN COMPOST TO BUILD OUR SOIL HEALTH.BY DESIGN, TWO THIRDS OF OUR HARVEST IS DISTRIBUTED AND SOLD VIA THE MOBILE MARKETS. WITH ON SITE CHILDRENS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS STILL LARGELY RESTRICTED BY THE PANDEMIC, WE DONATED THE REMAINING THIRD TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THEIR COVID AND ECONOMIC RELIEF EFFORTS.COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: RESPONDING TO INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THIS YEAR, THE FARM DIRECTED PRODUCE THAT MIGHT NORMALLY GO TO OTHER ARCADIA PROGRAMMING OR WHOLESALE OUTLETS TO FOOD PANTRIES AND OTHER PANDEMIC EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF EFFORTS. WE NEARLY DOUBLED OUR DONATIONS OVER 2020, FROM 5,929 POUNDS TO 15,000 POUNDS AND COUNTING, A THIRD OF OUR TOTAL HARVEST. WE DONATED FOOD REGULARLY TO UNITED COMMUNITY AND RISING HOPE UMC, DC CENTRAL KITCHEN, THE KATHERINE HALEY SHELTER, STONEYBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER, GUM SPRINGS COMMUNITY CENTER, LORTON COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER, ARLINGTON FOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WITH DISTRIBUTION HELP FROM FOOD RESCUE US.CSA PROGRAM:17-MEMBER CSA PROGRAM FOR 25 WEEKS OF PRODUCE; PROCEEDS SUPPORTED FARM OPERATION COSTS.ON-FARM INFRASTRUCTURE: WE RECEIVED SEVERAL SMALL GRANTS TO UPGRADE OUR SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERIES; OUR PRODUCTION FARM IS ENTIRELY OFF THE GRID AND ALL POWER USED THERE IS GENERATED BY SOLAR. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING OUT THE ORIGINAL BATTERIES FOR OUR 12 PANEL SYSTEM TO BATTERIES WITH HIGHER STORAGE EFFICIENCY.ORCHARD: OUR ORCHARD IS ONE YEAR OLD; IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY FARM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND WILL BEGIN TO REACH PRODUCTION IN 2023. THE ORCHARD INCLUDES 15 ASIAN PEARS, 7 APPLES, 8 ASIAN PERSIMMONS (ASTRINGENT AND NON-ASTRINGENT), 18 PAWPAWS, 10 FIGS, ONE APRICOT AND 36 BLUEBERRIES. WE PLANTED BLACKBERRIES AND MORE FIG TREES IN THE SPRING OF 2021 TO COMPLETE THE PLAN. THE ORCHARD RESPONDS TO TWO PROGRAM IMPERATIVES: A NEW TRAINING UNIT FOR OUR VETERAN FARMERS, AND MORE FRUIT FOR OUR MOBILE MARKET, A PRODUCT THAT IS ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH WIC MOTHERS AND FAMILIES.VETERAN FARMER PROGRAM: GROWING THE NEXT WAVE OF AMERICAN FARMERSTHE NATION NEEDS 700,000 NEW FARMERS TO REPLACE THE FARMERS AGING OUT OF THE PROFESSION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. THE MILITARY PRODUCES 200,000 NEW VETERANS ANNUALLY. THIS DEMOGRAPHIC IS PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED -- THROUGH THEIR RESOURCEFULNESS, GRIT, PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND ENTREPRENEURIALISM -- TO CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE IF THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RETRAINED FOR IT.ARCADIA TRAINS MILITARY VETERANS TO FARM ON LAND THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON ONCE CULTIVATED A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONS CAPITAL. THROUGH 2018, ARCADIA HAS TRAINED 125 MILITARY VETERANS, WITH NEARLY HALF ALREADY WORKING ON FARMS OR STARTING THEIR OWN.THERE ARE THREE TRAINING TRACKS:THE VETERAN FELLOWSHIP IS A ONE-YEAR, SALARIED ON-FARM APPRENTICESHIP FOR MILITARY VETERANS TO LEARN AND PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL METHODS. IT IS APPROVED BY THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION AS AN OFFICIAL OJT PROGRAM, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO DRAW DOWN GI BILL BENEFITS WHILE THEY TRAIN.THE VETERAN FARMER RESERVE PROGRAM MEETS ONE WEEKEND A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS FOR INTENSIVE CULTIVATION, BUSINESS, BOTANY, AND FARMING SKILLS TRAINING, ALONG WITH FIELD VISITS TO SUCCESSFUL FARMS TO EXPLORE THE FULL RANGE OF AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES. THE RESERVISTS ALSO WORK TWO WEEKS A YEAR ON ARCADIA FARM TO EXPERIENCE THE CHALLENGES, REWARDS, AND DAY-TO-DAY RHYTHMS OF AGRICULTURE.THE VETERAN FARM INCUBATOR DISMANTLES THE PRIMARY BARRIER TO NEW VETERAN FARMERS -- ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE. GRADUATES OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAM MAY APPLY FOR FARM POTS ON OUR VEGETABLE FARM, SUPPORTED BY OUR IRRIGATION, POWER, GREENHOUSE, FARM EQUIPMENT AND MARKET ACCESS. THEY ESTABLISH THEIR OWN FARM BUSINESSES ON OUR FARM PAYING MODEST RENT AND ADHERING TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. ARCADIA OFFERS A ONE-YEAR WHOLESALE BUYING CONTRACT SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON BUILDING THEIR BUSINESS AND CULTIVATION SKILLS. THREE YEARS ON OUR LOW-COST, LOW-RISK INCUBATOR QUALIFIES OUR GRADUATES FOR LOW-INTEREST FSA LOANS AS FARM OPERATORS.SINCE 2015, ARCADIA HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 125 MILITARY VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE FARMERS. MORE THAN HALF NOW HAVE THEIR OWN FARM OPERATIONS, WITH 2/3S REPORTING THEY ARE STILL ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE IN SOME FORM.2020 POSED CHALLENGES WITH IN-PERSON TRAINING FOR THE VETERAN FARMER RESERVE PROGRAM, WHICH WE OVERCAME WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF ZOOM FOR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION. THIS KIND OF TRAINING WAS FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL, ALLOWING TRAINEES TO FOCUS FOR FOUR THREE-HOUR INSTRUCTIONAL BLOCKS, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING TRAINEES TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER THROUGH UNSTRUCTURED GROUP CONVERSATIONS AND WRITTEN CHATS. WE CONTINUED ZOOM TRAINING FOR THE ACADEMIC PORTIONS OF OUR PROGRAMMING IN 2021, FINDING IT EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FOR OUR TRAINING CLASS.WE FRONT-LOADED THE SEASON WITH ACADEMIC TRAINING, AND BEGAN MEETING OUTSIDE, IN PERSON -- MASKED AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED -- FOR FARM FIELD TRIPS AND HANDS-ON CULTIVATION AND FARM WALKS IN MARCH.SA GRADUATE OF THE 2020 PROGRAM, JIM MISCENIK, TOOK OVER MOUNTAIN VIEW ORGANIC FARM IN LOVETTSVILLE, VA., A DIRECT RESULT OF ARCADIAS ROBUST NETWORK IN THE LOCAL FARM COMMUNITY. HE IS NOW PRODUCING POULTRY (AND OFFERING IT FOR SALE THROUGH OUR CSA) AND VEGETABLES.JOEL FUDGE, ONE OF OUR TWO 2021 VETERAN FARM FELLOWS, BEGAN A PART-TIME FARM JOB IN GREAT FALLS IN ADDITION TO HIS FARM FELLOWSHIP, COMPLEMENTING THE INTENSIVE VEGETABLE TRAINING HE RECEIVES AT ARCADIA WITH LIVESTOCK EXPERIENCE AT HIS OTHER FARM.INCUBATOR FARM:2021 SAW SEVEN INCUBATOR FARMS ON OUR VETERAN FARM INCUBATOR, INCLUDING A FLOWER & VEGETABLE FARM; A GARLIC FARM; THREE MIXED VEGETABLE OPERATIONS; A HOPS AND HONEY OPERATION, AND A HONEY OPERATION. ONE FARMER SOLD HER PRODUCTS AT THE DELRAY FARMERS MARKET WITH GREAT SUCCESS. ANOTHER BECAME A GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE GROWING KINDNESS PROGRAM, DISTRIBUTING FRESH FLOWER BOUQUETS EVERY WEEK AT NO COST TO NURSING HOMES AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. ONE INCUBATOR FARMER DONATED HIS ENTIRE CROP TO A FOOD PANTRY. ANOTHER USED HIS PLOT AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR YOUNG BLACK FARMERS.FARMER JENNIE HASKAMP OF CHANGE OF PLANTS FARM, AN ARCADIA INCUBATOR FARM, WON THE PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY FAIR BEST IN SHOW AWARD FOR A PUMPKIN SHE GREW ON HER PLOT, AND A RIBBON IN ALL 13 CATEGORIES IN WHICH SHE COMPETED. AMANDA BEARD, A BEEKEEPER IN OUR INCUBATOR PROGRAM, WON A SECOND PLACE RIBBON FOR HER HONEY.BEE MENTOR AND AIR FOCE VETERAN ROB MCKINNEY ESTABLISHED HIVES ON OUR FARM AND TRAINED OUR TWO VETERAN FARM FELLOWS WEEKLY IN BEEKEEPING.FAIR FOOD ACCESS: BUILDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESMOBILE MARKET:ARCADIA LAUNCHED ITS MOBILE MARKET IN 2012, AS A ROLLING FARM STAND STOCKED WITH LOCALLY, SUSTAINABLY GROWN FOODS INCLUDING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, HERBS, PASTURED EGGS, GRASS-FED AND PASTURED BEEF, PORK, ORGANIC MILK, CHEESE, HANDMADE BREAD AND HONEY.THE MOBILE MARKET HAS SINCE SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.7 MILLION IN AFFORDABLY PRICED, HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL FRESH FOOD IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SINCE 2012. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FIGURE IS NOT JUST THE SALES BUT WHAT IT REPRESENTS: THE GROWING AND BARELY SCRATCHED SURFACE OF THE DEMAND FOR FRESH HEALTHY FOOD IN RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SUFFER A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF CHRONIC DISEASES THAT CORRELATE STRONGLY TO THE FOOD TO WHICH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS DO -- AND DO NOT -- HAVE REGULAR ACCESS.DURING THE PANDEMIC THE MOBILE MARKET MAKES REGULAR WEEKLY STOPS IN LOW-FOOD ACCESS NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACCEPTS AND DOUBLES THE FACE VALUE OF FOOD STAMPS (SNAP, WIC, AND SENIOR FMNP). THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE SERVE TYPICALLY HAVE HIGH SNAP USAGE, LOW CAR OWNERSHIP, AND ARE AT LEAST A MILE FROM A GROCERY STORE THAT CAN SUPPORT A HEALTHY DIET.IN TESTAMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE MODEL, SNAP CUSTOMERS INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THEY TAKE HOME FROM AN AVERAGE OF $4 PER TRANSACT