The Terrace Foundation
The Terrace Foundation is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit operating a 120-tower aeroponic farm, microgreen greenhouse, and organic soil farm to combat food insecurity. It serves food-insecure families, seniors, disabled residents, veterans, and local restaurants via CSA memberships, produce donations, and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSanta Barbara, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Terrace Foundation does
The Terrace Foundation is a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, that operates a multi-component urban farm to address food insecurity in Santa Barbara County. It runs three integrated production systems: a 120-tower aeroponic farm using a drip-down nutrient delivery system with rockwool growing medium and living 'Harvest to Plate' produce; a microgreen greenhouse cultivating nutrient-dense greens on compostable jute mats (yielding 9x-40x more nutrients than mature counterparts); and an organic soil farm focused on soil reclamation. The foundation serves food-insecure individuals and families, seniors, disabled residents of Pilgrim Terrace Cooperative Homes, displaced veterans, and local students, while also supplying fresh produce to a small set of local restaurants including Birnam Wood Golf Club, Cafe La Fonda, and Jack's Bagels.
The foundation monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model. CSA memberships are priced at $52/year, recurring donations are solicited at $100-$2,500 tiers, and a forthcoming e-commerce store will sell microgreens, seedlings, and produce with Food Stamps/EBT accepted. A $75-per-service hydroponic tower maintenance offering is gated to CSA members. Grant acquisition is a core revenue line, with founder John W. Jeffries having secured over $10 million historically through the Veterans' Administration, USDA, and state/local government channels. Distribution combines direct CSA pickup, donation channels through Unity Shoppe and Veggie Rescue, and direct restaurant supply.
Operationally, the foundation is led by a four-person leadership team (Chairman/Founder John W. Jeffries, Director of Operations Louis Alvaro, Administrative Assistant Teresa Jeffries, Board Member Michael Vondran), with staff of 51-100 reported in firmographics. The organization holds USDA certification for its CSA program and is co-located with Pilgrim Terrace Cooperative Homes. Strategic programs include Farms4Heroes (veteran training via the VA) and Community Tower Farms (food-desert remediation). Payment integrations are limited to Clover POS, PayPal, Amazon Smile, and EBT; no AI, app, or proprietary software platform is disclosed.
The Terrace Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Terrace Foundation
- Legal name
- The Terrace Foundation
- Website
- https://theterracefoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Terrace Foundation is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit operating a 120-tower aeroponic farm, microgreen greenhouse, and organic soil farm to combat food insecurity. It serves food-insecure families, seniors, disabled residents, veterans, and local restaurants via CSA memberships, produce donations, and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Terrace Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Agriculture and Community Food Security
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vineyard Pest, Disease & Weed Management (IPM, Spraying, Bird Control) (AFAGAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vertical Farming Systems & Racking (Indoor Farms, Multi-tier) (AFAAAHAI), Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
Keywords
Where The Terrace Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Barbara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Terrace Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- CSA Membership Fees: Annual CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership donation of $52/year provides members with produce bags, garden parties, farm share programs, living produce, local honey, starter seedlings, educational workshops, and volunteer opportunities.
- Donations: Accepts monetary donations through credit/debit card, PayPal, check, and Amazon Smile. Donation amounts suggested at $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, or custom amounts. Monthly and one-time giving options available.
- Produce and Product Sales: Sells microgreens, seedlings (herbs, produce, lettuce/leafy vegetables), and offers hydroponic tower maintenance services ($75/service) to CSA members. E-commerce store launching soon.
- Grants and Funded Programs: Acquires grant funding for community programs including Farms4Heroes (veteran assistance) and Community Farm Project. Founder John Jeffries has personally acquired over $10 million through grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | CSA Annual Membership - $52/year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hydroponic Tower Maintenance - $75/service |
| Other | Monthly | Monetary Donations - Variable amounts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
The Terrace Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Terrace Foundation operates an urban farm in Santa Barbara that combines 120 aeroponic towers, an organic soil farm, and a microgreen greenhouse to produce pesticide-free, nutrient-rich food. Its core deliverables are CSA memberships providing produce access, the Farms4Heroes veteran program, the Community Tower Farms initiative, and the Summer Camp children's education program, all under a "Harvest to Plate" model that delivers living produce with root systems attached.
Product overview
The Terrace Foundation operates a multi-component urban farming system focused on ending food insecurity through its 'Harvest to Plate' model. The core offerings consist of three interconnected farming systems: an Aeroponic Tower Farm (120 towers growing produce vertically in soilless medium), an Organic Soil Farm (using traditional soil-based sustainable practices), and a Micro Green Greenhouse (growing nutrient-dense greens on jute mats). These production systems feed into the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, which provides memberships offering produce access, seedlings, and educational workshops. Additional services include Hydroponic Tower Maintenance for CSA members and a Summer Camp program teaching children about nutrition and farming. The organization also operates specialized programs including Community Tower Farms (addressing food deserts) and Farms4Heroes (supporting displaced veterans through tower farming).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program A membership-based program allowing community members to access freshly harvested, nutrient-rich produce grown without pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. Members pay an annual fee of $52/year and receive benefits including nutrition community meals, garden parties, living produce, local honey, starter seedlings, and educational workshops.
- Aeroponic Tower Farm Urban farm operation featuring 120 aeroponic towers that grow produce vertically in soilless rockwool foundations. Plants' roots are suspended in air and watered with nutrient solution through a drip-down system. Produce is harvested with root systems attached, maintaining living produce status under the 'Harvest to Plate' method.
- Micro Greens Greenhouse Greenhouse-grown microgreens cultivated without soil on compostable jute mats, including varieties such as Peas, Sunflower, Broccoli, Arugula, Wheatgrass, Mung Beans, Radish, Basil, and Beets. Microgreens contain 9x-40x more nutrients than mature counterparts.
- Organic Soil Farm Traditional soil-based farming operation focused on soil reclamation and regeneration using organic and sustainable practices to enhance soil fertility and health, producing nutrient-rich crops for residents and CSA program members.
- Farms4Heroes Program Program assisting displaced veterans with PTSD, homelessness, and physical wounds by providing opportunities to become tower farmers, gaining benefits from providing healthy food to the community as well as financial rewards and self-reliance from farm management.
- Community Tower Farms (Community Farm Project) Community Farm Project (CFP) addressing food insecurities in high-density populated areas and food deserts by providing access to fresh produce grown on-site using no pesticides, designed for urban areas with limited access to fresh produce due to urban sprawl and reduced presence of community markets.
- Summer Camp Educational Program Educational program for children teaching nutrition and farming values. Curriculum is geared toward educating elementary through high school students on nutritional and farming values, inspired by the philosophy that educating children on urban farming is a step toward future food sustainability.
- Hydroponic Tower Maintenance Service Service available at $75 per service that includes Tower Gardens tower purchase, 1-hour training, setup of tower garden(s), 2 visits per month, nutrients, planting assistance, and consultation on best practices. Requires CSA membership.
- Seedlings (Herbs, Produce, and Lettuce/Leafy Vegetables) Herb and plant seedlings available to CSA members, including herbs (Cilantro, Chives, Parsley), produce (Diva Cucumber, Heirloom Tomato, Lunchbox Pepper, Washington Cherry Tomato), and lettuce/leafy vegetables (All Star, Mixed Lettuce, Butter Lettuce, Red Oakleaf, Romaine, Ruby Sky, Toscano Kale).
Quantifiable outcome
- Produces 9x-40x more nutrients in microgreens compared to mature plants
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Terrace Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Terrace Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
The Terrace Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Veterans' AdministrationcoreGovernment partnership providing support and resources for the Farms4Heroes project assisting displaced veterans with PTSD, homelessness, and physical wounds through tower farming training and employment opportunities.
- USDAcoreUSDA certification helps document the number of people served annually. Foundation is certified by the USDA for their Community Supported Agriculture program.
- State and Local GovernmentcorePartnership with state and local government agencies to support food security initiatives and sustainable agriculture programs in Santa Barbara.
- Schools and UniversitiescoreCollaborations with Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and UC Santa Barbara for educational programs, curriculum development, and community outreach on nutrition and farming.
- Retail BusinessescorePartnership with retail businesses and restaurants including Birnam Wood Golf Club, Cafe La Fonda, and Jack's Bagels who purchase or receive aeroponic produce.
- Unity ShoppecoreLocal nonprofit receiving produce donations from the foundation and providing mutual support in the Santa Barbara community.
- Veggie RescuecoreNonprofit organization picking up aeroponic produce from the foundation for food rescue and redistribution.
- Kids In NutritionminorSupporting nonprofit focused on children's nutrition education.
- EnviroHub SBminorLocal environmental organization supporter.
- Santa Barbara CountycoreCounty government partnership supporting community food security initiatives.
- KEYT NewsminorLocal media partner providing news coverage and visibility for the foundation.
- Pilgrim Terrace Cooperative HomescoreIndependent living senior community where the foundation operates its urban farm. Foundation donates produce free of charge to all senior and disabled residents.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Terrace Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AeroFarms: AeroFarms is a large-scale indoor vertical farming operator using aeroponic technology. Comparable on core growing methodology (aeroponics) and indoor farming scale, though operating as a commercial for-profit.
- Bowery Farming: Bowery operates indoor vertical farms serving retailers and restaurants with pesticide-free produce. Comparable broad incumbent in indoor/vertical farming supplying food service and retail.
- Plenty: Plenty is a vertical farming company building large indoor farms for fresh produce. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the controlled environment agriculture category addressing urban produce supply.
- Local Bounti: Local Bounti is a publicly traded indoor farming company producing greens and herbs at scale. Comparable broad incumbent in controlled environment agriculture serving retail and food service.
- AppHarvest: AppHarvest operates large controlled environment agriculture greenhouses for fresh produce. Comparable broad incumbent in indoor/greenhouse farming with overlapping produce categories.
Others
- Wholesome Wave: Wholesome Wave is a nonprofit working on food access and affordability through programs like doubling SNAP benefits at farmers markets. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit addressing food insecurity through produce access.
Direct peers
- Freight Farms: Freight Farms builds container-based vertical farming systems used in urban and community settings. Directly comparable as an enabling technology for distributed urban farming with a community/mission-friendly go-to-market.
- Tower Garden by Juice Plus+: Tower Garden is the manufacturer of the aeroponic tower systems The Terrace Foundation deploys across its 120-tower farm. Direct peer on the core vertical-farming technology and tower-based growing methodology.
Emerging players
- Square Roots: Square Roots operates urban indoor farms with a social mission around food access and farmer training. Comparable emerging player that combines controlled environment agriculture with a community-impact focus similar to The Terrace Foundation.
Regional players
- City Growers: City Growers is an urban farm education nonprofit based in NYC connecting youth to urban agriculture. Comparable regional player combining urban farming with youth education and community outreach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Terrace Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Terrace Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Terrace Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Terrace Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Terrace Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Terrace Foundation 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 The Terrace Foundation
What does The Terrace Foundation do?
The Terrace Foundation operates an urban farm in Santa Barbara that combines 120 aeroponic towers, an organic soil farm, and a microgreen greenhouse to produce pesticide-free, nutrient-rich food. Its core deliverables are CSA memberships providing produce access, the Farms4Heroes veteran program, the Community Tower Farms initiative, and the Summer Camp children's education program, all under a "Harvest to Plate" model that delivers living produce with root systems attached.
Is The Terrace Foundation a public or private company?
The Terrace Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Terrace Foundation founded?
The Terrace Foundation was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Terrace Foundation based?
The Terrace Foundation is headquartered in Santa Barbara, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Terrace Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. CSA Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations, produce and Product Sales and grants and Funded Programs.
Who are The Terrace Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AeroFarms, Bowery Farming, Plenty, Local Bounti and AppHarvest. Wholesome Wave is listed as an others. Direct peers are Freight Farms and Tower Garden by Juice Plus+. Square Roots is listed as an emerging player. City Growers is listed as a regional player.
Does The Terrace Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Terrace Foundation.
What industry is The Terrace Foundation in?
The Terrace Foundation's product category is Urban Agriculture and Community Food Security. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAJAD, Vineyard Pest, Disease & Weed Management (IPM, Spraying, Bird Control), with a secondary code of AFAAAHAI, Vertical Farming Systems & Racking (Indoor Farms, Multi-tier). Its NAICS code is 11511 and its SIC code is 700.