Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

What Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture does

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is a women-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 and headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, that supports small and mid-scale farms across 11 counties in northwestern North Carolina and Johnson County, Tennessee. Its core operating asset is the High Country Food Hub, an online farmers market formed in February 2016 that aggregates regional producer output and fulfills orders through seven pickup locations, alongside legacy programs including the King Street Market, LocalFAM membership, and the CRAFT farmer-training cohort.

BRWIA's programmatic portfolio has expanded into food-access and climate-focused work: it operates the Double Up Food Bucks SNAP-incentive program in partnership with Fair Food Network (channeling $241,564 in matched produce dollars cumulatively since 2017), runs a Biochar Kiln Loan Program and Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative launched in 2024, and partners with Appalachian State University, F.A.R.M. Full Circle, and regional restaurants. A 1–10 person staff is augmented by a substantial volunteer base, with 1,160 volunteer hours logged in 2023.

The organization's revenue model is a typical nonprofit mix: tax-deductible donations, foundation and government grants, LocalFAM memberships, and event-based fundraising — anchored by the annual Savory Shindig, which raised $42,000 in 2025 versus $35,000 in 2023. No audited revenue figure is disclosed. Distribution, not software, is the underlying technology stack: a basic e-commerce aggregation platform paired with physical cold-storage and last-mile pickup logistics rather than any AI- or ML-driven system.

Name

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Legal name

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Website

https://brwia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is a women-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the High Country Food Hub and supporting programs to strengthen small farms and food access across 11 counties in northwestern North Carolina and Johnson County, Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Food Systems & Community Agriculture

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE), Grocery & Specialty Food Marketplaces (CRAFABAE)

Keywords

• Local food systems
• Farmer training
• Food access programs
• Online farmers market
• Community agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Boone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Relies on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding to support programs including Double Up Food Bucks, CRAFT farmer training, and food access initiatives.
2. Membership Programs: Offers membership options for community members to support the organization, with Friend of Agriculture tier providing exclusive access to BRWIA programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Savory Shindig fundraiser generates significant revenue ($42,000 raised in 2025, $35,000 in 2023). Additional farm-to-plate benefit nights at local restaurants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture operates a portfolio of interconnected programs that build the High Country local food system. Its flagship offering is the High Country Food Hub, a year-round online farmers market with 7 pickup locations enabling consumers to order local produce, meat, dairy, bread, and artisan goods. The organization also runs seasonal farmers markets (King Street Market), doubles federal nutrition benefits through Double Up Food Bucks, supports food access via LocalFAM, and trains farmers through the CRAFT peer-to-peer program.

Product overview

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture operates a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing local food systems. The core offerings include the High Country Food Hub (a year-round online farmers' market with 7 pickup locations), King Street Market (seasonal in-person farmers' markets), Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP matching incentive program), and Local Food As Medicine (LocalFAM) for food access. Producer support is provided through the CRAFT farmer training program, Biochar Kiln Loan Program, and Climate-Smart Agriculture initiatives. The organization also offers scholarships and organizes community events including the annual Savory Shindig fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High Country Food Hub: A year-round online farmers' market operated by BRWIA offering fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, artisan foods, cut flowers, body care products, and plants.
• King Street Market
• Double Up Food Bucks
• LocalFAM (Local Food As Medicine)
• CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training)

Products and services

• High Country Food Hub A year-round online farmers' market offering fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, artisan foods, cut flowers, body care products, and plants. Provides affordable cold, frozen, and dry storage options plus marketing and technical assistance to producers. Customers order online and pick up at 7 locations across the High Country (Boone, West Jefferson, Deep Gap, Wilkesboro, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Newland). The Food Hub is only closed 2 weeks per year.
• King Street Market A seasonal farmers' market in Boone, NC operating as Winter Market (Saturdays, December-March, 10am-1pm at Watauga Co. Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Rd) and Summer/Fall Market (Tuesdays, May-October, 3:30-6:30pm at 126 Poplar Grove Connector). Provides direct-to-consumer sales for local farmers.
• Double Up Food Bucks A healthy food incentive program that doubles the value of federal nutrition benefits (SNAP/EBT) spent at farmers' markets. Since 2017, $241,564 in Double Up Dollars have been distributed, creating $483,128 in local economic impact. Helps low-income families access local food while supporting local farmers and economy.
• Local Food As Medicine (LocalFAM)

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fair Food NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to grow a vibrant local food system and inform public policy to address hunger and nutrition while supporting a more sustainable food system. Fair Food Network provides the Double Up Food Bucks program infrastructure and national expertise.
• F.A.R.M. Full CirclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership increases healthy, local food consumption for low income families through the Full Circle program, creating a more equitable local food system.
• Local Restaurants (The Gamekeeper, Bistro Roca, Reid's Cafe, Proper, Café Violette, The Table at Crestwood)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFarm-to-plate benefit nights where restaurants feature local food and donate a portion of sales to BRWIA, supporting local producers and raising funds.
• Appalachian State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors documentary screenings, hosts Scaling Up Annual Food Hub Business Meetings, and provides student interns. Center for Appalachian Studies sponsors Song to Seed program.
• Appalachian Mountain BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts Brewin' Good Pint Night events and Cornhole for a Cause tournaments to benefit BRWIA's Double Up Food Bucks program.
• Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts documentary screenings and community events for BRWIA.
• Food Access OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRWIA convenes Annual LocalFAM Summit bringing together food access organizations, farmers, and community stakeholders to learn from professionals passionate about healthy food access and collaborate on strategic partnerships.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: NC and SC-based nonprofit advocating for organic farming and local food systems, operating farmers markets, farm tours, and farmer training. Overlaps directly with BRWIA's CRAFT training and farmers market programming.
• Local Food Hub (Charlottesville, VA): Regional nonprofit food hub aggregating and distributing local farm products to consumers and institutions in central Virginia. Operates a near-identical online marketplace plus food access model, making it the closest functional peer to BRWIA's High Country Food Hub.
• Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming: Regional food systems nonprofit in the Hudson Valley running farmer training, food access, and producer support programs. Similar CRAFT-style farmer development plus food equity orientation as BRWIA.
• CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture): San Francisco-based nonprofit operating the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and food education programs. Comparable model of running physical farmers markets plus consumer education for a regional food system.
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP): Regional nonprofit based in Asheville, NC supporting farmers and local food in the southern Appalachians via the Appalachian Grown certification and farmers market programs. Comparable mission, geography, and producer-support focus as BRWIA.
• FRESHFARM: DC-region nonprofit running producers-only farmers markets, food access incentives, and an online market. Comparable mix of physical markets, SNAP matching, and food hub activities to BRWIA.
• RAFI-USA (Rural Advancement Foundation International): NC-based nonprofit supporting farmers in the Carolinas through grants, crisis assistance, and policy advocacy targeting underserved producers. Mission overlap with BRWIA's equity-focused producer support.

Others

• Fair Food Network: National nonprofit that operates and supports Double Up Food Bucks, BRWIA's program partner. Comparable food access mission and SNAP-incentive infrastructure; functions as an enabling partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit running nutrition incentive programs (e.g., Double Value Coupon) for low-income shoppers at farmers markets. Same SNAP-doubling model and food access mission as BRWIA's Double Up Food Bucks program.

Emerging players

• New Entry Sustainable Farming Project: Massachusetts-based nonprofit running farmer incubator, training, and CSA/market access programs for beginning and immigrant farmers. Comparable farmer training pipeline (analogous to CRAFT) and market access focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BRWIA
• Instagraminstagram.com/brwia
• Xx.com/brwia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-ridge-women-in-agriculture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture