Food Security

Since launching in 2016, the foundation’s Food Security Initiative has made investments and formed partnerships that have fostered a more sustainable, collaborative and equitable local food system in the Washington, D.C., area. This work has increased the regional food system’s capacity to produce and distribute healthy food using sustainable and equitable practices, with a focus on opportunities for producers, distributors and communities that are systematically excluded from and exploited by the current food system. 

Food Security will not be a distinct program under our new strategy; however, the foundation will retain and advance the food system initiatives that align with the new organizational strategy. 

Following are examples of work we are currently funding and supporting. 

  • Production, Processing and Distribution — The foundation has made investments in for-and nonprofit food hubs to increase local and regional sourcing from networks in the mid-Atlantic, including a for-profit distribution and food hub that sources from a network of more than 600 small-to-mid-sized independent farmers. These food hubs also increase market access for Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other historically marginalized producers in order to strengthen a more efficient and equitable regional food system. Check out two community-supported agriculture partners in the DC area: Dreaming Out Loud (seasonal) and 4P Foods (year-round).
  • Food Access and Job Creation — The foundation partners with five organizations dedicated to healthy-food access and job creation in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, resulting in additional food access points, including farm stands and mobile markets. All partners prioritize job creation and strive to offer livable wages. Find the nearest FRESHFARM farmers market or farmstand here and visit an Arcadia Mobile Market.
  • Coalition, Advocacy and Knowledge Building — Our food-security work is dedicated to filling knowledge gaps to drive collective solutions towards strengthening the regional food system by creating healthy food access and economic opportunities. We invest in research to advance collective work – in partnership with 19 organizations we shared insights on food production, distribution and access in the District.