The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project

What The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project does

The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project (NCFP) is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded in 2019 to strengthen the local food system across Northern Colorado, primarily Larimer County. It operates a portfolio of community-driven programs: the Farm Business Accelerator (a 3-year program providing beginning farmers with land, water, shared infrastructure, business education via CSU Extension's Building Farmers curriculum, mentorship, and marketing assistance on City of Fort Collins-owned Flores del Sol property), the Familiar Foods mobile farmers market (launched March 2025 with SNAP acceptance to serve neighborhoods directly), the Certified Local restaurant verification program, the Poudre Food Partnership (a USDA-funded regional planning initiative), the Veg Out Program (partnering with the Food Bank for Larimer County to divert produce from spoilage), and the Meet Your Match Peer-to-Peer Ag Mentorship Program. The organization is governed by an invested board of directors and operated by a small staff led by Executive Director Lydia Lazar.

Name

The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project

Legal name

Northern Colorado Foodshed Project

Website

https://foodshedproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project is a Colorado nonprofit founded in 2019 that operates programs strengthening the Northern Colorado local food system, serving beginning farmers, restaurants, and food-insecure families through land-access incubation, mobile markets, certification, and mentorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Systems Nonprofit

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA), Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs (BPADABAD)

Keywords

• Local food systems
• Farm business accelerator
• Mobile farmers market
• Beginning farmer support
• Regional food partnership

Headquarters

HQ city

Laporte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from community members supporting local food system development, with suggested amounts for farm equipment and supplies
2. Grants: Government and foundation grants including USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, USDA AMS Regional Food System Partnerships, and Extension Risk Management Education grants
3. Program Fees: Accelerator program fees from participating farmers for land, water, infrastructure access, and business education services
4. Corporate Giving: Sponsorships and support from local businesses and organizations for food system programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project is a nonprofit organization that operates programs to strengthen the local food system in Northern Colorado. Its core programs include the Farm Business Accelerator (a 3-year program providing beginning farmers with land, infrastructure, and business education), the Familiar Foods mobile farmers market bringing local produce to neighborhoods, the Certified Local restaurant certification program, the Poudre Food Partnership regional food planning initiative, and the Veg Out Program connecting local farms to the Food Bank for Larimer County.

Product overview

The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project is a nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of programs designed to manifest the power of local food in Northern Colorado. Its core offerings include: the Farm Business Accelerator (a 3-year beginning farmer support program with land, infrastructure, and business education), Familiar Foods (a mobile farmers market bringing local produce to neighborhoods with SNAP acceptance), the Certified Local restaurant certification program, the Poudre Food Partnership (a USDA-funded regional food system planning initiative), the Veg Out Program (connecting local farms to the Food Bank for Larimer County), and a Peer-to-Peer Ag Mentorship Program. The organization does not operate a unified software platform but rather delivers community programs and physical food access services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Business Accelerator A 3-year program that provides beginning farmers with land and water access (plots starting at 1/4 acre), shared infrastructure (irrigation, tools, storage), business education through CSU Extension's Building Farmers Program, technical support, mentorship, and marketing assistance. Located on the Flores Del Sol property in Fort Collins, co-managed with Poudre Valley Community Farms.
• Certified Local A certification program that verifies Northern Colorado restaurants regularly purchasing from local farms and producers listed on their menus, ensuring farm-to-table benefits are shared with producers and recognized in the marketplace.
• Familiar Foods Mobile Market A mobile farmers market bringing locally grown produce, meats, and dairy directly to neighborhoods across Larimer County three times a week; committed to SNAP acceptance and reduced-rate shopping to make fresh local food accessible.
• Poudre Food Partnership A collaborative regional food system planning initiative formed under a USDA Regional Food System Partnerships planning grant, bringing together public, private, and nonprofit organizations to design and build an equitable, vibrant, and resilient local food system in Northern Colorado across Food Sovereignty and Access, Community Outreach and Education, and Production Growth and Land Access.
• Veg Out Program A collaboration with the Food Bank for Larimer County's Local Farm Purchasing program that creates additional transaction opportunities between local produce farmers and the food bank, diverting food from spoilage and increasing fresh local produce accessibility for low-income families.
• Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program (Meet Your Match Ag Mentorship) A mentorship program connecting experienced farmer mentors with mentees, providing one-on-one, place-based knowledge sharing, with mentors receiving a $50 stipend for up to 3 hours of support. Delivered in partnership with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and CSU Extension.

Quantifiable outcome

• Target to increase local food sales from 1.0% to 10% by 2027 in Larimer County
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Poudre Valley Community Farms (PVCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PVCF secures farmland and water resources and leases land to local producers. NCFP emerged from early PVCF work. The organizations are exploring a potential merger as of 2026, with shared Executive Director Lydia Lazar leading both. PVCF co-manages Flores del Sol property where the Accelerator operates.
• Colorado State University ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CSU Extension provides the Building Farmers Program for business education in the Farm Business Accelerator. Also partnered on USDA Regional Food System Partnerships planning grant and Ag Mentorship Program.
• Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Ag Mentorship Program to help local farmers and ranchers learn from one another, providing peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
• Food Bank for Larimer CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Veg Out Program and Local Farm Purchasing Program. Connected new local producers to program, diverted over 15,000 pounds of produce, paid local farms over $30,000 in sales.
• City of Fort CollinsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity owns Flores del Sol property where Farm Business Accelerator operates. Provides land access for beginning farmers.
• The Growing ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in USDA Regional Food System Partnerships planning grant and Poudre Food Partnership working groups on food system development.
• The Family Center/La FamiliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Poudre Food Partnership providing community outreach, education, and support for food sovereignty and access initiatives with bilingual (Spanish/English) engagement.
• ReKaivery, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in USDA Regional Food System Partnerships planning grant and Poudre Food Partnership for local food system planning.
• Montava/HF2MminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting local food systems development.
• Larimer County Farmers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farmer alliance partner supporting regional food system initiatives.
• Colorado Cattlemen's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState livestock association partner in regional food system development.
• Sproutin' UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-focused food and agriculture organization partner.
• Bio-logical CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in sustainable agriculture and food systems initiatives.
• FoCo CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food-focused cafe partner in food system community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit operating food access programs including mobile markets, farmers' markets, and SNAP-incentive initiatives across a regional food system. Highly comparable in mission (food access + producer support) and program mix (mobile market + farmer engagement).
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit running SNAP-incentive and produce-prescription programs that pair federal benefit programs with local farm direct sales. Direct peer in operating a produce-prescription/SNAP mobile market model serving food-insecure consumers through local producers.
• Fair Food Network: Ann Arbor-based nonprofit operating the Double Up Food Bucks program and food system initiatives that double SNAP benefits for produce purchases at farmers markets and mobile markets. Comparable in funding model (USDA/philanthropy), mission (food access), and program (SNAP-accepting direct-to-consumer produce).
• EcoTrust Food & Farms Program: Regional nonprofit combining farm business development, land access, and food procurement work in the Pacific Northwest. Direct peer in operating a multi-program food system strategy with farm-to-institution and farm-business support components.
• Local Food Hub (Virginia): Charlottesville-based nonprofit food hub aggregating and distributing local farm products to restaurants, schools, and underserved communities. Comparable operating model — aggregation/distribution + producer support + food access — at a similar stage of regional scale.
• Red Tomato: Massachusetts-based nonprofit food hub aggregating and marketing local produce to grocery retailers and institutions across the Northeast. Comparable in operating a regional food hub model that bridges small/mid-sized farms with larger retail and food access buyers.
• Just Food (New York): NYC-based nonprofit running CSA support, farm-to-restaurant, and food justice programs across the New York metro region. Comparable in operating a multi-program portfolio (CSA/incubator + food access + food justice + community kitchen) within a defined regional food system.

Emerging players

• Kitchen Table Advisors: California-based nonprofit providing 1:1 business advising and peer learning to small sustainable farmers — the farmer-support half of NCFP's portfolio. Comparable in delivering the Farm Business Accelerator and Peer-to-Peer Mentorship functions in a different region.
• Soul Fire Farm: New York-based BIPOC-led farm offering beginning farmer training, land access advocacy, and food sovereignty programming. Comparable in training beginning farmers (especially from underrepresented backgrounds) and explicitly framing work around food sovereignty and equity.

Broad incumbents

• National Farm to School Network: National advocacy and field-building organization connecting schools, farms, and food access programs across the U.S. Broader incumbent with an overlapping food-system-equity and institutional-procurement mission, though operating at a federal advocacy scale rather than a single regional ground game.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/foodshedproject
• Instagraminstagram.com/nocofoodshedproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project