Hartford Food System

What Hartford Food System does

Hartford Food System, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 and headquartered at 190 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut. The organization operates a portfolio of seven interconnected food access programs designed to address food insecurity through direct service, education, youth leadership development, and policy advocacy rather than emergency food distribution. Its core programs include Hartford Harvest Farm Share (an aggregated Community Supported Agriculture program sourcing from 10+ Hartford-area farms, offering 3-, 9-, and 18-week shares at $90, $270, and $540 respectively), Grow Hartford Urban Farm (urban agriculture on Oak Hill land in partnership with Keney Park Sustainability Project), Hartford Mobile Market (a year-round bus-based mobile produce market operating 5+ weekly stops and accepting SNAP and debit), North End Farmers Market (a seasonal Wednesday market attracting over 5,000 visitors per summer), Little City Sprouts (Farm to Preschool nutrition and gardening education reaching 500+ children annually), Grow Hartford Youth Program (food justice youth leadership), and Healthy Hartford Food Stores (corner-store and supermarket access initiatives). The organization is staffed by a small team (1–10 employees) led by Executive Director Billie C. Scruse, MPA, supported by a Policy Director (Meg Hourigan) and a Food Initiative Coordinator (Lori Thompson), with governance provided by a Board of Directors.

The organization's business model blends three revenue streams: philanthropic grants and donations (Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, Campbell Soup Company, Connecticut Humanities), earned social enterprise income from Hartford Harvest Farm Share CSA subscriptions, and in-kind/programmatic support from 40+ institutional partners (Hispanic Health Council, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Knox Parks Foundation, Wholesome Wave, UConn Center for Public Health, among others). Hartford Food System claims that over 80% of every dollar received flows directly into programs and advocacy. The organization differentiates from emergency food pantries by pursuing a systemic "food systems approach" — addressing root causes through sustainable channels — and embeds itself into Hartford's policy infrastructure by staffing the City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy (est. 1991) and engaging the Connecticut Food System Alliance and Food Solutions New England.

Reach metrics disclosed in source materials include 827,000 pounds of healthy local produce distributed in 2016, a 25% increase in produce access attributable to Harvard Pilgrim Healthy Food Fund grant support, 5,000+ annual visitors to the North End Farmers Market, and program participation in a market of roughly 30,000 Hartford residents (nearly 1 in 4 city residents) living in designated food deserts. The organization has received multiple Community Food Security Awards from the Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy (2015, 2017) and a Connecticut's Favorite Small Farmers Market designation from American Farmland Trust (2014). As a nonprofit, Hartford Food System does not have equity, venture backing, or a parent company; its financial scale is not publicly disclosed and is best estimated in the low single-digit millions of annual operating dollars.

Name

Hartford Food System

Legal name

Hartford Food System, Inc.

Website

https://hartfordfood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hartford Food System is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that operates integrated food access programs — a CSA farm share, mobile produce market, urban farm, farmers market, preschool nutrition education, and youth leadership — to address food insecurity in Hartford, Connecticut's underserved neighborhoods through direct service, education, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Access Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD)

Keywords

• Community food access
• Urban farming programs
• Community supported agriculture
• Mobile farmers market
• Nutrition education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, Hartford Food System relies heavily on donations from individuals and grants from foundations including Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation, and other funders. Over 80 percent of every dollar received goes directly into programs and food system advocacy.
2. Hartford Harvest Farm Share Sales: The organization sells CSA shares at $30 per week ($540 for 18 weeks, $270 for 9 weeks, $90 for 3 weeks) with income assistance available for qualifying families. Accepts SNAP and multiple payment methods.
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Hartford Harvest Farm Share serves as a social enterprise generating earned income through produce sales, engaging local farmers to provide fresh produce to residents while helping small and mid-size growers generate new revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hartford Food System operates an integrated portfolio of seven food access programs for Hartford, Connecticut residents: an aggregated Community Supported Agriculture share (Hartford Harvest Farm Share), an urban farm (Grow Hartford Urban Farm), a mobile produce market (Hartford Mobile Market), a seasonal farmers market (North End Farmers Market), a retail food environment initiative (Healthy Hartford Food Stores), a youth leadership program (Grow Hartford Youth Program), and a Farm-to-Preschool nutrition education program (Little City Sprouts). All programs accept SNAP and offer income assistance to ensure accessibility for low-income Hartford households.

Product overview

Hartford Food System operates as a single integrated nonprofit organization offering multiple food access programs rather than a unified software platform. Its core portfolio consists of seven interconnected programs: Hartford Harvest Farm Share (an aggregated CSA social enterprise), Grow Hartford Urban Farm (urban agriculture), Grow Hartford Youth Program (youth leadership development), Hartford Mobile Market (mobile produce distribution), Healthy Hartford Food Stores (retail food access), North End Farmers Market (weekly farmers market), and Little City Sprouts (Farm to Preschool education). These programs work together to address food insecurity through direct food access, education, youth empowerment, and policy advocacy, with all initiatives coordinated under the organization's nonprofit mission to create a just and healthy food system in Hartford.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hartford Harvest Farm Share: An aggregated Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program offering 18 weeks of fresh, locally sourced produce from Hartford-area farms. Participants can choose 3, 9, or 18-week shares at $30-$540.
• Grow Hartford
• Hartford Mobile Market
• North End Farmers Market
• Little City Sprouts

Products and services

• Hartford Harvest Farm Share An aggregated Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program offering 18-week shares of fresh, locally sourced produce from 10+ Hartford-area farms. Share options include 3-week ($90), 9-week ($270), and 18-week ($540) subscriptions, with pickup on Thursdays 4-6pm at Hartford Food System headquarters. Supports farmers of color and accepts SNAP; income assistance is available for qualifying families.
• Grow Hartford Urban Farm Urban agriculture initiative growing hyper-local vegetables and fruits at Oak Hill in Hartford's North End. Produce is distributed through the Hartford Mobile Market, Hartford Harvest Farm Share CSA, and community programs.
• Grow Hartford Youth Program Youth-led leadership program in food justice, racism, and adultism through public speaking workshops, leadership training, community organizing, and summer youth employment on the urban farm. Aligns with movements such as the People's Climate March and Black Lives Matter.
• Hartford Mobile Market A year-round mobile produce market bringing fresh, locally and regionally sourced fruits and vegetables to underserved Hartford neighborhoods using a bus-based retail model. Currently operates 5+ weekly stops, accepts SNAP and debit, with plans to expand to 12 stops.
• Healthy Hartford Food Stores Initiative supporting strong retail outlets in urban settings through corner store projects and efforts to attract new supermarkets, ensuring access to healthy and culturally appropriate food in grocery stores across Hartford.
• North End Farmers Market Weekly seasonal farmers market operating Wednesdays from late June through October (9:00am-12:00pm) at the North End Senior Center, 80 Coventry Street, Hartford. Provides fresh locally grown produce from area farms, attracts over 5,000 visitors annually, and matches SNAP/EBT dollars.
• Little City Sprouts A Farm-to-Preschool program launched in April 2015 providing preschool children with food-related field trips, gardening, nutrition, and cooking lessons. Reaches more than 500 children and 100 parents annually across Hartford childcare centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% increase in fresh produce access for Hartford families
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connecticut Children's Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Healthcare partnership launched in 2022 providing fresh produce vouchers to families visiting the emergency room who screen positive for food insecurity. Staff screens families using a two-question survey; approximately 40% display 'hunger vital signs'. Families receive fruits and vegetables in a voucher program.
• Hispanic Health CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2014Collaborative partnership to develop and operate the Hartford Mobile Market. The Hispanic Health Council serves as a co-program operator and hosts mobile market stops at their WIC location. This partnership combines Hartford Food System's food access programming expertise with the Hispanic Health Council's community health infrastructure.
• Keney Park Sustainability ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for urban farming operations and produce distribution through the Grow Hartford Urban Farm program.
• City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartford Food System provides staffing for this commission established by City ordinance in 1991 and serves as a member. Commission works to improve availability of safe and nutritious food at reasonable prices for all Hartford residents.
• Connecticut Food System Alliance (CFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide food system alliance that Hartford Food System actively engages with through its Policy Director Meg Hourigan. CFSA takes a holistic approach to food policy ensuring Greater Hartford input into statewide food action plans.
• Food Solutions New EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food system collaboration that Hartford Food System participates in alongside the Connecticut Food Policy Council and New England Food Vision initiatives.
• Wholesome WavecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnecticut-based national nonprofit focused on food access, affordability, and government food assistance. Partnered with Hartford Food System and Community Solutions, Inc. on NHPZ Food System Investment Areas tactical implementation plan for North End Hartford.
• Community Solutions, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged Wholesome Wave and Hartford Food System in 2017 to develop tactical implementation plan addressing food access challenges in North End Hartford with support from Well Being 360 (Trinity Health) and Rx Foundation.
• Knox Parks FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner in building community gardens network and urban farming efforts throughout Hartford.
• City of Hartford Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on North End Farmers Market planning team and various food policy initiatives. Commission on Food Policy operates under this department.
• FoodshareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnecticut's food bank serving as a primary food assistance resource in the region.
• Community Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Hartford Mobile Market weekly stop providing access to fresh produce for their patient community.
• End Hunger Connecticut!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide hunger organization working on outreach, advocacy, and policy to eliminate hunger and promote healthy nutrition.
• Urban AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization implementing Beyond the Basics and Revitalize programs addressing food security for Hartford residents.
• Billings Forge Community WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization hosting farmers markets and food-related programming at Billings Forge location.
• University of Connecticut Center for Public Health and Health PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner conducting food security research and providing nutrition education through programs like Husky Programs.
• Oak HillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Grow Hartford Urban Farm growing operations in Hartford's North End, providing land for urban agriculture production.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HartfordFoodSystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/HartfordFoodSystem
• Instagraminstagram.com/hartfordfood
• Xx.com/HTFDFoodSys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hartford-food-system

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Hartford Food System