What Shalom Farms does

Shalom Farms is a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Shalom Farms Inc.) that grows and distributes Certified Naturally Grown produce as part of a food access and food justice mission. The organization operates two production farms — a 5-acre Northside Farm in Richmond (on Union Presbyterian Seminary's Westwood Tract, serving as production, aggregation, and office hub) and a larger 12-acre Powhatan Farm in Midlothian (equipped with six high tunnels for season extension), producing 189,261 pounds and 600,000+ servings of produce annually using organic-style methods without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.

The organization distributes produce through a multi-channel program portfolio: (1) Farm Share, a weekly seasonal subscription box of 8-12 produce items offered in 12-week ($600) or 24-week ($1,200) commitments with pickup at Northside Farm; (2) Mobile Markets operating across 15+ Richmond neighborhoods (senior apartments, libraries, community centers, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Bon Secours Sarah Garland Jones Center) with cash/check/card/SNAP acceptance and a 50% SNAP Match via Virginia Fresh Match under a Fair Pricing Model; (3) Produce Rx, a USDA NIFA-funded, clinic-referred food-as-medicine cohort program with health outcome tracking; (4) educational field trips and Standards of Learning-aligned curriculum for K-12 students; (5) seasonal workshops, community pavilion rentals, and a robust volunteer program (6,296 volunteer visits and 17,140 volunteer hours annually).

The business model blends earned revenue (Farm Share subscriptions and Mobile Market sales, the latter typically subsidized below cost) with philanthropic revenue (individual donations, the Sustainers Collective five-tier recurring giving program at $50-$1,000/month, corporate/event sponsorships from Wegmans, VACU, Genworth/CareScout, RiverFront Investment Group, Ironwood Automotive, and institutional grants including USDA NIFA). The organization is funded and governed independently with no parent company or institutional investor; Executive Director Änna Ibrahim leads an ~18-person team (organized into distribution, production, and engagement functions) supported by a Board of Directors that includes executives from Altria, Capital One, M&T Bank, Marsh McLennan, Performance Food Group, Markel, and Hamilton Beach Brands.

Name

Shalom Farms

Legal name

Shalom Farms Inc.

Website

https://shalomfarms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shalom Farms is a Richmond, VA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two Certified Naturally Grown farms that grow and distribute produce via Mobile Markets in 15+ neighborhoods, Farm Share subscriptions, and a USDA-funded Produce Rx food-as-medicine program serving 10,000+ community members annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Agriculture and Food Access

NAICS

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

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Other Specialty & Industrial Crop Farming (Emerging/Regional Specialty Crops) (AFAGAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA), Greenhouse Herb & Microgreens Production (Culinary Herbs, Microgreens) (AFAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Food access programs
• Community supported agriculture
• Mobile farmers market
• Produce subscription
• Food as medicine

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Farm Share Subscriptions: Weekly seasonal subscription boxes of fresh produce sold for $50/week. Available as 12-week or 24-week commitments, providing upfront capital for farm operations.
2. Mobile Market Produce Sales: Fresh produce sold at mobile markets across Richmond neighborhoods, accepting cash, check, credit/debit, and SNAP benefits. Prices are kept low through nonprofit subsidization.
3. Donations and Grants: Individual donations, monthly sustaining donors (Farm Friends), Sustainers Collective recurring donors, event sponsorships, and institutional grants including from USDA NIFA.
4. Sustainers Collective: Monthly recurring donations at five tiers ($50-$1,000/month) with member perks including decals, exclusive merchandise, and event invitations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shalom Farms grows Certified Naturally Grown produce on two Richmond-area farms and distributes it through Mobile Markets, Farm Share weekly subscriptions, and the Produce Rx food-as-medicine program. The organization grows 50+ crop varieties and operates Mobile Markets in 15+ neighborhoods with 50% SNAP Match via Virginia Fresh Match, serving 10,000+ community members annually. Programs are bundled with nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and field-trip-based Standards of Learning curriculum for schools.

Product overview

Shalom Farms is a nonprofit farm and food justice organization operating two production farms (Northside Farm and Powhatan Farm) in the Richmond, VA area. The organization offers a portfolio of food access programs centered around its Farm Share subscription boxes and Mobile Market distribution network, complemented by food as medicine initiatives (Produce Rx), educational programs (field trips, tours, workshops), and community engagement opportunities (volunteer program, pavilion rentals). The Farm Share provides weekly seasonal produce subscriptions from their Certified Naturally Grown farms, while the Mobile Market extends food access across 15+ neighborhoods with SNAP matching. All programs work together toward the organization's mission of building an equitable food system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Share Weekly seasonal subscription box of 8-12 fresh Certified Naturally Grown produce items harvested from Northside and Powhatan farms. Available as 12-week ($600) or 24-week ($1,200) commitments with pickup on Wednesdays 4-5:30pm at Northside Farm, with items harvested within a day of pickup. Designed for health-conscious Richmond-area consumers seeking local, organic-equivalent produce with upfront payment financing farm operations.
• Mobile Market Mobile farmers market operating across 15+ Richmond neighborhoods at senior apartments, libraries, community centers, and healthcare facilities, offering fresh produce with 50% SNAP Match via Virginia Fresh Match. Includes cooking demonstrations and samples. Operates under a Fair Pricing Model allowing pay-what-you-can transactions for food-insecure community members and households.
• Produce Rx Cohort-based food-as-medicine health program partnering with local clinics to provide nutrition education, cooking skills, and fresh produce to participants referred for diet-related health conditions. Six-week cohort cycles with health-outcome tracking. Supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding and clinic partners including VCU Massey Cancer Center and Bon Secours Sarah Garland Jones Center.
• Field Trips and Farm Tours On-farm educational experiences for elementary, middle, and high school students with Standards of Learning-based curriculum, plus farm tours for groups of 6+ on weekday afternoons. Offered Monday-Thursday in spring and fall on sliding scale ($0-10 per student).
• Workshops Seasonal educational workshops taught by local experts on topics including farming techniques, food preservation, and agricultural skills such as High Tunnel Growing, Sharpening 101, Mead Making, and Bug Walk. Offered on sliding scale pricing during the spring and fall seasons.
• Community Pavilion and Volunteer Program Volunteer engagement program offering individual and group volunteer opportunities at both farm locations April through November, including a Lead Volunteer Program for weekly season-long commitments and group volunteer sessions, alongside use of the Northside Farm pavilion and outdoor classroom for community meetings, workshops, and events for groups up to 50. Generates 6,296 volunteer visits and 17,140 volunteer hours annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 189,261 pounds of produce harvested and distributed annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rodale InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with national research institutions like Rodale Institute for studying different growing conditions on produce nutrition. The Powhatan farm assists with research on how different growing conditions affect the nutritional content of produce.
• Virginia Fresh MatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide program providing 50% SNAP Match at Mobile Markets, effectively doubling the purchasing power of SNAP benefits for fresh produce purchases.
• Union Presbyterian SeminarycoreOthersProvides land for the Northside Farm location on the Westwood Tract and physical plant building for office space. The farm is adjacent to Yaupon Place Park.
• Children's Museum of RichmondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership offering educational opportunities and programming connecting children to food systems and agriculture.
• WegmansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal grocery retailer sponsoring the 2026 Open House event as a Food System Fair.
• VACU (Virginia Credit Union)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStation Sponsor for 2025 Harvest Festival, providing financial support for the annual community celebration.
• Genworth and CareScoutminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Open House event.
• RiverFront Investment GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Open House event.
• Ironwood AutomotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Open House event.
• CFFC (Capital Area Food Bank)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Sponsor for 2025 Harvest Festival. Food bank partnership for broader food distribution network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fair Food Network: National nonprofit operating Double Up Food Bucks SNAP matching programs and food access initiatives. Directly comparable to Shalom's SNAP doubling and food justice focus.
• Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture: Virginia-based nonprofit operating a working farm with food access, Mobile Market-style distribution, and farm education programs in the DC metro area. Direct operational mirror of Shalom Farms' farm-plus-food-access hybrid model.
• Brighter Bites: National nonprofit that distributes fresh produce and nutrition education to underserved communities through school and community channels. Closely comparable to Shalom's Mobile Market and educational programming model.
• Wholesome Wave: Pioneer of SNAP doubling/incentive programs and food-as-medicine Produce Rx initiatives. Operates programs structurally similar to Shalom's Virginia Fresh Match integration and Produce Rx program.
• DC Central Kitchen: Nonprofit combining food production, distribution to food-insecure populations, and culinary job training. Comparable in combining production-side operations with food access distribution at scale.
• The Food Trust: National nonprofit focused on increasing access to affordable, nutritious food and preventing diet-related disease through food access and SNAP incentive programs. Shares food justice mission and healthy retail partnerships approach.
• FoodCorps: Nonprofit connecting kids to healthy food in schools through hands-on food education and farm-to-school programming. Comparable to Shalom's field trip programming and Standards of Learning curriculum.
• Big Green: Nonprofit building learning gardens in schools and communities with food education programming. Comparable in combining food production, education, and underserved community focus.

Broad incumbents

• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the Richmond/Washington DC area. Already a Harvest Festival partner of Shalom Farms; broader incumbent operating in the same food distribution space with greater scale.

Regional players

• Local Food Hub: Virginia-based food hub aggregating and distributing local produce to food access partners. Comparable distribution model serving the same Mid-Atlantic geography as Shalom Farms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShalomFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/shalomfarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shalomfarms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Shalom Farms