Arcadia Food Inc

CULTIVATE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS PRIORITIZING HEALTH, EQUITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY, FROM FARM FORWARD.

SEE SCHEDULE O FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS; THE VETERAN FARMER PROGRAM; FARM EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD JUSTICE PROGRAMS. 1. ARCADIA'S VETERAN FARMER PROGRAM TRAINS MILITARY VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL, AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERSIN THE BUSINESS AND CRAFT OF FARMING. SINCE 2016, ARCADIA HAS TRAINED 145 PROSPECTIVE FARMERS, WITH NEARLY HALF FARMING ON THEIR OWN OPERATIONS AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING. THERE ARE THREE TRAINING TRACKS: THE VETERAN FARMER RESERVE, WHICH MEETS ONE WEEKEND A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS FOR CLASSROOM AND HANDS ON CULTIVATION TRAINING, BUSINESS TRAINING, AND FARM FIELD TRIPS TO LEARN ON SITE; THE FARM FELLOWSHIP, WHICH PAYS VETERANS TO APPRENTICE ON ARCADIA'S NONPROFIT VEGETABLE FARM, PREPARING THEM TO OPERATE FARMS OF THEIR OWN OR TO WORK ON OTHER PROFESSIONAL FARMS WITH THE REQUISITE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE; AND THE VETERAN FARM INCUBATOR, WHICH GRANTS UP TO 1/4 ACRE OF ARCADIA FARM LAND TO GRADUATES OF EITHER TRAINING PROGRAM WITH A THREE YEAR LEASE. THE INCUBATOR FARMS ARE INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS AND GIVE PARTICIPANTS REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE RUNNING OF FARM OF THEIR OWN, SUPPORTED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL FARMERS, INFRASTRUCTURE, TOOLS AND CONNECTIONS TO MARKETS. 2. ARCADIA WORKS TO EXPAND SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC REGION. ARCADIA'S MOBILE MARKETS HAVE SERVED WASHINGTON DC SINCE 2012, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK ACCESS TO FRESH HEALTHY FOOD WITH A COMPLETE DIET OF HIGH QUALITY, LOCALLY GROWN FOODS. SINCE 2012, THE MOBILE MARKETS HAD SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION IN HEALTHY FOOD, WITH MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION OF THAT PAID TO SMALL LOCAL FARMERS. THE MOBILE MARKETS ACCEPT AND DOUBLE FEDERAL NUTRITION BENEFITS. WHILE THE MARKETS ARE LESS THAN 2% OF ALL FARMERS MARKET REVENUES IN DC, THEY REDEEM 45% OF ALL SNAP BENEFITS AT FARMERS MARKETS IN THE CITY. 3. ARCADIA'S FARM EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS FARM CAMP AND ON-FARM FIELD TRIPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, GIVING THEM IMMERSIVE, HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTHY FOOD AT ITS SOURCE. SINCE 2011, FARM CAMP HAS WELCOMED MORE THAN 1200 CAMPERS, WITH MORE THAN 240 ON FULL NEEDS BASED SCHOLARSHIPS. FIELD TRIPS HAVE EDUCATED MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS. ARCADIA'S FARM EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO ENCOMPASSES THE LIVE, EAT, GROW PROGRAM. IN 2018, WITH FUNDING FROM THE NORTHERN VIRGINIAHEALTH FOUNDATION (NVHF), WE LAUNCHED THE LIVE, EAT, GROW (L.E.G.) ROUTE 1 PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES ON INCREASING NUTRITION SECURITY AND HEALTH EQUITY IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES ALONG ROUTE 1. THE L.E.G. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. WE LISTEN TO AND WORKWITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES TO DEVELOP UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO FOOD INSECURITY, INCLUDINGGROWING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THESE EFFORTS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GROWING A HEALTHIER ROUTE 1 COMMUNITY.ALONG WITH SUPPORTING SCHOOL GARDENS, ARCADIA HELPS DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE GARDENS AT COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY PLANTING AND HARVESTING FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND EXPERIENCE THE PROVEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING. LEG SUPPORTS 13 SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SEEDLING, LABOR, VOLUNTEERS, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND GARDEN EDUCATORS. 4. ARCADIA LEADS AND MANAGES THE MID-ATLANTIC FOOD RESILIENCE AND ACCESS COALITION (MAFRAC), WHICH STARTED IN 2020 DURING THE FOOD CRISIS ENGENDERED BY THE PANDEMIC WHEN GROCERIES AND FARMERS MARKETS SHUT DOWN, INTERSTATE TRUCKING SLOWED DOWN, AND FARMERS WERE FACING PLOWING UNDER THEIR CROPS. MAFRAC RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO FUND GRANTS TO MORE THAN 200 NONPROFITS ,FOOD PANTRIES, AND FARMS TO PURCHASE LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO FEED RESIDENTS OF THE MIDATLANTIC AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THESE INVESTMENTS IN BOTH LOCAL FARMS AND A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH FRONT LINE EMERGENCY FOOD ORGANIZATIONS STRENGTHENS AND CREATES A MORE RESILIENT REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT WILL BE MORE EQUIPPED TO WEATHER THE NEXT FOOD CRISIS. MAFRAC GATHERS STAKEHOLDERS FROM DC, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA IN WEEKLY CALLS TO SHARE EXCESS FOOD RESOURCES, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND FARMERS.