Growing Places
Growing Places is a Massachusetts nonprofit that improves food access across 27 North Central MA communities through SNAP/HIP-eligible produce delivery, mobile and farmers markets, a workforce training program, and value-added food processing at its Gardner Regional Food Center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLeominster, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Growing Places does
Growing Places is a Massachusetts nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that operates a community-based local food system across all 27 communities of North Central Massachusetts. Its core mission is to promote and teach sustainable food production, preparation, and consumption, with a particular focus on improving food access for low-income households. The organization runs four primary program lines: (1) a SNAP/HIP-eligible home-delivery and pick-up produce subscription service offering weekly shares priced at $20–$80, with specialized nutrition-support shares for dietary restrictions; (2) mobile markets and year-round farmers market presence in Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster; (3) the Local Food Workforce Training Program, a 12-week hands-on certification-bearing curriculum for youth aged 14+ and adults; and (4) the Greening the Gateway Cities urban tree-planting initiative in partnership with MA DCR, EEA, and Department of Energy Resources.
The organization operates two physical sites — a Leominster headquarters at 325 Lindell Ave and the Waterford St. Regional Food Center in Gardner, MA, which functions as the produce aggregation, distribution, and value-added processing hub. At the Food Center, lightly processed items including Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, and Veggie Rice & Noodles are produced for wholesale to local restaurants, schools, caterers, childcare centers, and community kitchens through a Local Food Marketplace ordering platform.
Growing Places is governed by a community-based board of directors and led by Executive Director Ayn Yeagle, supported by a 16+-person professional staff and hundreds of recurring volunteers. Its revenue model is hybrid and nonprofit-typical: earned income from produce subscriptions, wholesale, and market sales is blended with individual donations, corporate and foundation sponsorships, and government grants. Strategic partnerships anchor the operating model, including a formal agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Administration for SNAP/EBT and Healthy Incentive Program benefit processing, and state-agency partnerships for the urban forestry initiative. Since founding, the organization has cumulatively created more than 450 gardens, provided technical support to more than 1,500 low-income individuals, and now packages 450+ produce units weekly for donation and home delivery.
Growing Places firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Growing Places
- Legal name
- Growing Places Garden Project
- Website
- https://growingplaces.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Growing Places is a Massachusetts nonprofit that improves food access across 27 North Central MA communities through SNAP/HIP-eligible produce delivery, mobile and farmers markets, a workforce training program, and value-added food processing at its Gardner Regional Food Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Growing Places industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Food Access Services
- NAICS
- Fruit and Vegetable Retailers (445230), Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fresh Food Subscription/CSA & Produce Box Retail (CRAHAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Co-ops with Online Ordering & Pickup/Delivery (CRAHALAH), Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO), Mobile Specialty Food Vendors (e.g., BBQ, Tacos, Seafood, Ethnic) (THAFAHAH)
Keywords
Where Growing Places is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leominster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Growing Places business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Produce Shares (Subscription): Weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscription-based produce shares with value options at $20, $40, $60, or $80. Customers pay via SNAP/HIP benefits, debit/credit, or cash. Generates recurring revenue from community-supported agriculture model.
- Wholesale to Food Businesses: Sells fresh, locally grown produce and lightly processed items (Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, Veggie Rice & Noodles) to food businesses including restaurants, cafes, caterers, childcare centers, schools, colleges, community kitchens. Manufactured at Waterford St. Regional Food Center in Gardner, MA.
- Donations and Grants: Nonprofit funding through individual donations, corporate and foundation sponsorships, and government grants. Contact: Ayn Yeagle, Executive Director.
- DTA/SNAP Partnership: Partnership with Department of Transitional Assistance for SNAP/EBT administration. Enables purchase of fresh, local produce using SNAP and Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Value Share Options: $20, $40, $60, or $80 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Growing Places product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Growing Places operates a community-based local food system in North Central Massachusetts, offering SNAP/HIP-eligible weekly produce home delivery and pick-up subscriptions (valued at $20, $40, $60, or $80), seasonal mobile markets and year-round farmers markets in Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster, a 12-week Local Food Workforce training program for youth and adults, the Greening the Gateway Cities tree-planting initiative, and wholesale lightly processed produce items (Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, Veggie Rice & Noodles) produced at the Waterford St. Regional Food Center in Gardner, MA.
Product overview
Growing Places operates as a nonprofit offering a portfolio of food access and community nutrition programs, primarily focused on North Central Massachusetts. The core offerings center on a weekly produce subscription delivery and pick-up service (with SNAP/HIP-eligible shares ranging from $20-$80), supplemented by mobile and farmers markets operating seasonally and year-round. The organization also runs a Local Food Workforce training program and the Greening Gateway Cities tree-planting initiative. For food business customers, they offer value-added processed products (Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, Veggie Rice & Noodles) through their Waterford St. Regional Food Center. These programs collectively serve individuals, families, farmers, schools, and public agencies across the 27 communities of North Central MA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Local Produce Home Delivery & Pick-Up Program Weekly produce subscription program offering SNAP/HIP-eligible fresh, locally grown produce delivered to homes or available for pick-up across North Central MA. Shares range from $20-$80 with weekly, biweekly, or monthly options, available in variety, bestsellers, mixed, and specialized nutrition support share formats.
- Mobile and Farmers Markets Seasonal mobile market stops throughout North Central MA (June-October) plus year-round farmers market presence in Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster, accepting cash, debit/credit, SNAP, and HIP benefits, plus a drive-up market at Waterford St. Regional Food Center.
- Local Food Workforce Training Program Hands-on 12-week training program for youth (ages 14+) and adults across 27 communities of North Central MA, building skills in growing, preparing, and distributing local produce, with industry-recognized certifications and career support services.
- Wholesale Local Food Marketplace Wholesale distribution of fresh locally grown produce and lightly processed value-added items (Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, Veggie Rice & Noodles) prepared at the Waterford St. Regional Food Center in Gardner, MA, sold to restaurants, cafes, caterers, childcare centers, schools, colleges, and community kitchens with multiple delivery sites.
- Greening the Gateway Cities Program Urban tree-planting initiative offering free shade trees to residents in designated planting zones of Leominster and Fitchburg, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
Quantifiable outcome
- 450+ gardens created since 2001
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Growing Places
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Growing Places technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Growing Places partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)corePartnership with DTA (which administers SNAP/EBT) enables weekly produce program allowing customers to purchase fresh, local produce using SNAP and Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits. DTA is a Massachusetts state agency.
- Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)coreDCR Urban & Community Forestry program manages the Greening the Gateway Cities Program. Experienced DCR foresters visit Leominster and Fitchburg properties to recommend tree species. Growing Places organizes outreach and educational programming for GGCP.
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)coreMassachusetts state agency partner in the Greening the Gateway Cities Program (GGCP), working to increase tree canopy cover in Leominster and Fitchburg neighborhoods.
- Department of Energy Resources (DOER)coreMassachusetts state agency partner in the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, contributing to urban forest initiatives in Leominster and Fitchburg.
- Home Gardening Project FoundationminorInspired by Dan Barker's Home Gardening Project Foundation in Portland, Oregon (1984), founders Kate Deyst and Cindy Buhner launched Growing Places Garden Project in Harvard, MA in 2001.
- Local Businesses and Community OrganizationscoreStrong partnerships with local businesses and community organizations help connect Local Food Workforce participants to job opportunities and support services needed to succeed.
- North Central MA Farmers MarketscoreGrowing Places attends Fitchburg and Leominster Farmers Markets managed by North Central MA Farmers Markets. Gardner Farmers Market manages the Gardner location.
- TerraCorpsminorGrowing Places hosts a TerraCorps Service Member in Youth Education Coordinator role for 2026-2027 service year to build comprehensive youth program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Growing Places competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Farm Fresh Rhode Island: Nonprofit running a multi-program food hub, farmers markets, CSA-style aggregation, and SNAP incentive programs in Rhode Island. Comparable as a nonprofit regional food system operator combining markets, aggregation, and food access.
- Boston Area Gleaners: Nonprofit that gleans and distributes surplus produce from Massachusetts farms to communities facing food insecurity. Closely comparable nonprofit food-system model and regional produce-distribution focus.
- Just Roots: Nonprofit CSA farm in Greenfield, MA running a produce subscription program and community food access work in Western Massachusetts. Comparable to Growing Places as a Massachusetts-based nonprofit combining CSA shares, food access, and community programming.
- Community Harvest Project: Nonprofit in North Central Massachusetts focused on gleaning and distributing fresh produce to food-insecure populations through volunteer engagement. Directly comparable mission (food access in the same region) and volunteer-driven operating model.
Regional players
- CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture): Western Massachusetts nonprofit supporting local farmers and food access through programs like Senior FarmShare and SNAP incentives. Comparable nonprofit food-system mission, but serves a different Massachusetts region.
Others
- Local Food Marketplace: Software vendor that powers Growing Places' online ordering platform (lfw.localfoodmarketplace.com). Included as an enabling technology partner for the CSA/wholesale business model rather than a competitor.
Broad incumbents
- The Food Trust: National-scale nonprofit focused on food access, farmers markets, and nutrition incentive programs (including SNAP/HIP-style models). Comparable on food-access mission and policy-driven funding model, but operates at a much larger, multi-region scale.
- Wholesome Wave: Nonprofit that pioneered SNAP doubling / nutrition incentive programs across multiple states. Comparable on the SNAP/HIP incentive model Growing Places is built around, though Wholesome Wave operates nationally and at a programmatic, not direct-delivery, scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Growing Places social profiles
Digital presenceGrowing Places financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Growing Places leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Growing Places funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Growing Places M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Growing Places
What does Growing Places do?
Growing Places operates a community-based local food system in North Central Massachusetts, offering SNAP/HIP-eligible weekly produce home delivery and pick-up subscriptions (valued at $20, $40, $60, or $80), seasonal mobile markets and year-round farmers markets in Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster, a 12-week Local Food Workforce training program for youth and adults, the Greening the Gateway Cities tree-planting initiative, and wholesale lightly processed produce items (Ripple Rounds, Veggie Fries, Slaws, Chips, Veggie Rice & Noodles) produced at the Waterford St. Regional Food Center in Gardner, MA.
Is Growing Places a public or private company?
Growing Places is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Growing Places founded?
Growing Places was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Growing Places based?
Growing Places is headquartered in Leominster, United States, in the North America region.
How does Growing Places make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Produce Shares (Subscription) is the primary driver. The others are wholesale to Food Businesses, donations and Grants and DTA/SNAP Partnership.
Who are Growing Places's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Boston Area Gleaners, Just Roots and Community Harvest Project. CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) is listed as a regional player. Local Food Marketplace is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are The Food Trust and Wholesome Wave.
Does Growing Places have an API?
No public API is recorded for Growing Places.
What industry is Growing Places in?
Growing Places's product category is Community Food Access Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAHAG, Fresh Food Subscription/CSA & Produce Box Retail, with a secondary code of CRAHALAH, Food Co-ops with Online Ordering & Pickup/Delivery. Its NAICS code is 445230 and its SIC code is 5411.