Urban Growers Collective

What Urban Growers Collective does

Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 by Erika Allen and Laurell Sims, continuing the work of Growing Power Chicago (established 2002). The organization operates eight urban farms totaling 11 acres across Chicago's South Side — including the 14-acre South Chicago Farm, Roosevelt Square Youth Farm, Grant Park "Art on the Farm," Altgeld Gardens bee sanctuary, Educare Preschool Farm, King Drive Healing & Resilience Garden, and Jackson Park Community Garden — plus a 30-acre peri-urban Z-Farm in Chicago Heights acquired in May 2024. UGC is also a strategic partner in the 9-acre Green Era Campus, which hosts a 35,000-square-foot anaerobic digester (the Midwest's first self-sustainable) that converts food waste into renewable natural gas and compost. Core technology centers on organic intensive urban growing methods, contaminated-soil barrier systems to address Chicago's lead contamination, and a solar-powered Growing Dome for season extension.

UGC generates revenue and impact through four market pathways: the Fresh Moves Mobile Market (a bus-converted mobile farmers market serving schools, community centers, churches, and health clinics), farm stands at South Chicago Farm and Roosevelt Square, Collective Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions with home delivery via Dion's Chicago Dream, and wholesale produce to local restaurants. Earned income is supplemented by tuition from a three-year Grower Apprenticeship ($1,700/year) and three-year Herbalism Apprenticeship ($2,000/year), workshop fees ($100 public or $25 with workshare hours), and community garden plot rentals ($25/season). SNAP/Link Match vouchers through LinkUp Illinois double purchasing power up to $50. The organization is funded primarily through grants and donations, including Citi Foundation ($500,000, 2021), JPMorgan Chase, The Conservation Fund, Kinship Foundation/Food:Land:Opportunity, Grand Victoria Foundation, and Vitable Health.

UGC's primary customers are Chicago's Black and Brown communities on the South and West Sides, with secondary service to Chicago Public Schools students ages 14-19 (via the Youth Corps program in partnership with After School Matters), emerging BIPOC urban growers, SNAP/low-income recipients, local restaurants, and corporate partners seeking ESG-aligned volunteering. The organization employed 42 staff members as of 2025, served approximately 40,000 customers over 2021-2024, and operates programs including Youth Corps (205 youth in 2025), internships (10 in 2025), Grower Apprenticeship, and Herbalism Apprenticeship. Founder Erika Allen is sole CEO as of February 2024 and is a James Beard Leadership Award recipient (2022).

Name

Urban Growers Collective

Legal name

Urban Growers Collective

Website

https://urbangrowerscollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Growers Collective is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating eight urban farms and a 30-acre peri-urban farm to deliver fresh produce, job training, and food-access programs to Black and Brown communities on Chicago's South and West Sides.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture and Community Food Systems

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA), Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

Keywords

• Urban agriculture
• Community farming
• Mobile farmers market
• Food access programs
• Urban farming education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations and grants including a $20,000 matching gift campaign for End-of-Year donations. Accepts checks, online donations, and in-kind product donations
2. CSA Subscriptions: Collective Supported Agriculture program offers half-share and full-share options with early spring, main season, and early winter seasons. Home delivery available for $12/week additional fee
3. Farm Stand Sales: Weekly farm stands at South Chicago Farm and Roosevelt Square sell produce, seedlings, and value-added products. Accepts cash, credit/debit, SFMNP, SNAP/EBT
4. Fresh Moves Mobile Market: Mobile farmers market bus visiting schools, community centers, churches, and health clinics. Sells UGC-grown produce, partner produce, pantry staples, and value-added products
5. Wholesale Produce: Harvest-to-order vegetables and herbs for restaurants, farmers markets, or stores at wholesale prices and quantities. Orders available Wednesdays and Fridays
6. Grower Apprenticeship Tuition: Three-year Grower Apprenticeship Program with annual tuition of $1,700. Scholarships available
7. Herbalism Apprenticeship Tuition: Three-year, four-season Herbalism Apprenticeship with annual tuition of $2,000. Scholarships available
8. Workshop Fees: Public workshops cost $100; reduced cost of $25 in exchange for 3 workshare hours. Herbalism workshops available separately
9. Community Garden Plot Fees: Community garden plots at Jackson Park and South Chicago farms cost $25 per 10ft x 10ft plot. LINK recipients and those demonstrating financial need receive free plots

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Urban Growers Collective operates urban farms on Chicago's South Side to produce fresh, culturally affirming produce and distribute it through Fresh Moves Mobile Market, farm stands, CSA subscriptions, and wholesale channels. The organization runs educational and workforce programs including Youth Corps for teens, three-year Grower and Herbalism Apprenticeships, and ten-week internships. It also partners with schools, housing authorities, healthcare providers, and community organizations to deliver food access, job training, and community wealth-building programs.

Product overview

Urban Growers Collective operates a multi-faceted urban agriculture operation centered on food production, education, and community access. The core offerings include: Fresh Moves Mobile Market (a bus-converted mobile farmers market), Farm Stands, Collective Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription boxes, and Wholesale produce sales. These market pathway products are supported by extensive educational programming including Youth Corps teen training, Grower Apprenticeship (3-year), Herbalism Apprenticeship (3-year), and Internship (10-week) programs. Additional community engagement services include Community Garden Plots, Community Composting, Corporate Volunteering, Farm Tours, and Public Workshops. The organization runs eight urban farms across Chicago's South Side totaling 11 acres, plus a 30-acre peri-urban farm in Chicago Heights, and serves as a strategic partner in the 9-acre Green Era Campus renewable energy facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh Moves Mobile Market: A bus-turned-mobile farmers market that brings affordable produce to schools, community centers, churches, and health clinics in Chicago's communities of color.
• Collective Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Products and services

• Fresh Moves Mobile Market A mobile farmers market on a converted bus bringing UGC-grown produce, partner produce, pantry staples, and value-added products to underserved Chicago neighborhoods. Visits Thresholds, Educare, Chicago Family Health, and other partner sites. Accepts cash, credit/debit, FMNP, SNAP/EBT, and Link Match up to $50.
• Farm Stands Seasonal farm stands at South Chicago Farm (Saturdays 9:30am-4pm) and Roosevelt Square Youth Farm selling UGC-grown produce, seedlings, and value-added products. Accepts cash, credit/debit, SFMNP, SNAP/EBT with Link Match doubling.
• Collective Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscription produce box program offering Half Share (6 items for 2-3 people) and Full Share (12 items for family of four). Pickup at South Chicago Farm or Floriole Bakery, or home delivery via Dion's Chicago Dream for $12/week. Includes seasonal options (Early Spring, Main Season May 6-Oct 29, Early Winter).
• Wholesale Produce Harvest-to-order vegetables and herbs sold wholesale to local restaurants, farmers markets, and stores. Orders available Wednesdays and Fridays, placed via FarmHand platform and newsletter.
• Youth Corps Program Paid teen job training program for Chicago youth ages 14-19, teaching urban farming, nutrition, food justice, and business development through an inquiry-based STEAM curriculum. Delivered in partnership with After School Matters. All participants receive a work stipend.
• Grower Apprenticeship Program Three-year apprenticeship providing hands-on training in urban agriculture production and cooperative business models for new and emerging growers, particularly BIPOC farmers. Annual tuition $1,700; scholarships available; BIPOC growers strongly encouraged to apply.
• Herbalism Apprenticeship Program Three-year, four-season apprenticeship teaching participants to engage with plants for personal, family, and community healing through a seed-to-remedy curriculum. Includes 40+ hours of direct instruction, program supplies, books, remedy-making materials, and gardening supplies. Annual tuition $2,000 with scholarships.
• Internship Program Ten-week urban farming internship providing realistic experience as an urban grower and food access advocate. Interns assist in production, food access, and community engagement across UGC's farm sites.
• Community Garden Plots Community garden plot rentals at Jackson Park and South Chicago farms offering 10x10 ft plots ($25 per plot; free for LINK recipients and those demonstrating financial need) for community members to grow their own food for themselves and their families.
• Community Composting Weekly Saturday drop-off of kitchen scraps at South Chicago Farm with bi-weekly 'Learn and Volunteer' Saturdays providing hands-on composting education for community members.
• Corporate Volunteering Intentional corporate volunteer engagements including co-created customized volunteer days, professional documentation, communal celebrations, and funded partnerships. Prioritizes organizations willing to invest in long-term collaborative funding and volunteering relationships.
• Farm Tours Guided immersive tours of urban farms including weekly public tours, youth-led art tours, and Green Era Campus tours for visitors, schools, and community groups.
• Workshops & Events Public workshops covering seasonal grower topics (spring bed-building, summer harvest, fall winterizing), herbalism workshops, and specialty farming demonstrations. Pricing is $100 public or $25 in exchange for 3 workshare hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89,000+ pounds of produce cultivated and nearly 40,000 customers served (2021-2024 Impact Report)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and standard.

• Vitable HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2024Partnership with Vitable Health, a direct primary care health plan provider. Vitable awarded UGC a $15,000 grant and organized a company-wide volunteer day on July 11, 2024 at South Chicago Farm. Partnership aims to improve health access in Chicago's Black and Brown communities through Fresh Moves Mobile Market and pop-up health clinics at farm stands.
• Argonne National Laboratory (DOE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2024Historic MOU between Argonne's Office of Community Engagement and Green Era Campus. Partnership will pursue joint research in sustainability, agriculture, renewable energy, and food equity. First formal collaborative research partnership with a community-based organization. Both organizations will apply jointly to funding opportunities.
• LinkUp Illinois (Experimental Station)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to double SNAP/Link card dollars with Link Match Vouchers at Fresh Moves buses, Farm Stands, and CSA. Customers receive $1 voucher for every dollar spent with Link card, up to $50 match. Makes healthy local food more affordable and accessible.
• Green Era SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Era Campus is a partnership of Green Era Sustainability (for-profit), Urban Growers Collective, and Green Era Educational NFP (not-for-profit). Green Era Sustainability operates the anaerobic digester system on the 9-acre campus.
• Green Era Educational NFPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner in Green Era Campus. Erika Allen serves as president of Green Era Educational NFP.
• Dion's Chicago DreammajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA delivery partner delivering weekly produce shares to homes for $12/box. Social enterprise focused on food security, workforce development, and food quality in Chicago.
• Seedling FruitstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market stocks seasonal local fruit from Seedling Fruit.
• Urban EdenstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market stocks micro greens and lettuce from Urban Eden.
• Midwest FoodsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market sources non-local produce staples from Midwest Foods.
• ThresholdsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market stops at Thresholds Austin (334 N Menard) and Thresholds South (734 W 47th St) - mental health community organizations.
• Chicago Family HealthstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market stop at Chicago Family Health (9199 S Exchange Ave) - health clinic.
• Educare ChicagostandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresh Moves Mobile Market stop at Educare Chicago (5044 S. Wabash) - Head Start preschool.
• Growing SpacesstandardTechnology or IntegrationSouth Chicago Farm includes solar-powered Growing Dome greenhouse from Growing Spaces for season extension and year-round growing.
• Chicago Park DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chicago Park District for Grant Park 'Art on the Farm' and Jackson Park Community Garden preservation.
• After School MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Corps teen job training program is in partnership with After School Matters. Eligible youth are CPS students ages 14-19.
• Chicago Housing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chicago Housing Authority for Altgeld Gardens (2-acre bee sanctuary) and Roosevelt Square Youth Farm (one-acre farm).
• Mick Klug FarmstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA program includes fruit from Mick Klug Farm alongside UGC-grown vegetables and herbs.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Big Green: National nonprofit building learning gardens and food education programs; UGC's Farm Program Manager Sam Koentopp previously worked at Big Green, and the org addresses adjacent food-education and garden-based learning.

Direct peers

• Mandela Partners: Oakland food hub operating urban farms, a mobile farmers' market, and wholesale produce distribution for food equity — directly comparable operating model to UGC's market pathway mix.
• The Food Project: Boston-area nonprofit running urban farms, a Youth Corps job-training program, and CSA shares with an explicit food justice mission — structurally aligned to UGC's farm + youth + CSA model.
• Soul Fire Farm: BIPOC-led farm in Petersburg, NY operating farmer training, youth programs, and food sovereignty initiatives — closely aligned with UGC's equity-centered urban agriculture and apprenticeship model.
• Detroit Black Community Food Security Network: Black-led nonprofit operating D-Town Farm and food security programming in Detroit — directly comparable community-led urban agriculture and food justice model in a peer Midwest city.
• Greening of Detroit: Detroit nonprofit combining urban agriculture, tree planting, and job training in low-income communities of color — comparable mission, urban farming production, and training pipeline.
• Windy City Harvest: Chicago Botanic Garden's urban agriculture program operating city farms, certificate training, and a farm incubator — a direct Chicago peer combining production with workforce development in the same city.

Others

• Advocates for Urban Agriculture: Chicago coalition shaping urban agriculture policy; UGC team member Ericka Gonzalez-Guzman previously organized there, and the org enables UGC's policy environment rather than directly competing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/freshmoveschi
• Xx.com/ugrowcollective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Growers Collective