Alma Backyard Farms
Alma Backyard Farms is a 501c3 nonprofit that combines urban agriculture with restorative justice in Los Angeles, training formerly incarcerated individuals, educating youth, and distributing organic produce through community Farm Stands in Compton and San Pedro.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Alma Backyard Farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alma Backyard Farms
- Legal name
- ALMA Backyard Farms
- Website
- https://almabackyardfarms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Alma Backyard Farms is a 501c3 nonprofit that combines urban agriculture with restorative justice in Los Angeles, training formerly incarcerated individuals, educating youth, and distributing organic produce through community Farm Stands in Compton and San Pedro.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alma Backyard Farms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Agriculture Social Enterprise / Nonprofit Community Farming
- NAICS
- Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Alma Backyard Farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Alma Backyard Farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 46-3516486), ALMA relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization launched a $10 million Capital Campaign in 2024 for land acquisition and program expansion.
- Farm Stand Sales: Weekly Farm Stand social enterprise in Compton and San Pedro selling organic produce, locally baked goods, pantry staples, and sustainably made household items. Serves 450-550 patrons per Farm Stand event.
- Brunch Service: Brunch served during Farm Stand Sundays at the Compton location (8:30AM-11:30AM), featuring ALMA-grown ingredients. Starting at $10 per meal. Proceeds benefit the Peas-In-A-Pod Youth Education program.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including hoodies, crewnecks, shirts, beanies, and accessories with prices ranging from $20-$50.
- Youth Program Fees: Summer Farm Camp at $125 per child (heavily subsidized through community support with additional scholarships available). Peas-In-A-Pod workshops provided free during Farm Stand Sundays.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Farm Stand Brunch |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Summer Farm Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Apparel |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Accessories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alma Backyard Farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alma Backyard Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise that operates urban farms in Compton and San Pedro, California, producing and distributing organic produce through weekly Farm Stands while running paid brunch services. It delivers a job training program in agriculture, carpentry, landscaping, and entrepreneurship for persons formerly incarcerated, and offers youth education programs (Peas-In-A-Pod workshops and Summer Farm Camp) focused on environmental stewardship, nutrition, and cooking.
Product overview
Alma Backyard Farms operates as a nonprofit social enterprise with three core programs that work together: the Farm Stand social enterprise (providing community access to affordable organic produce and brunch services), the Urban Agriculture Job Training Program (offering dignified employment and skills development for formerly incarcerated individuals), and the Peas-In-A-Pod Youth Education Program (teaching children about environmental stewardship and nutrition). An online Merchandise Store supports funding these initiatives. The organization grows and distributes approximately 125,000 pounds of high-quality, seasonal vegetables annually across farm locations in Compton and San Pedro, Los Angeles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Farm Stand A social enterprise open every first and third Sunday in Compton (8:00AM-12:00PM) and every second Sunday in San Pedro, offering affordable organic produce, baked goods, pantry staples, sustainably made household items, and educational workshops to local community members.
- Urban Agriculture Job Training Program Job training program providing paid employment and skills development in agriculture, carpentry, landscaping, and entrepreneurship for persons formerly incarcerated, paired with mentorship and holistic care. Since 2013, over 500 persons have received training.
- Peas-In-A-Pod Youth Education (Summer Farm Camp and Workshops) Hands-on environmental stewardship, nutrition, and agriculture workshops for children ages 5-13, plus a week-long Summer Farm Camp at $125 per child with scholarships available. Free workshops are held during Farm Stand Sundays.
- Farm Stand Brunch Service Brunch served during Farm Stand Sundays at the Compton location from 8:30AM-11:30AM, featuring ALMA-grown ingredients. Starting at $10 per meal with proceeds benefiting the Peas-In-A-Pod Youth Education program.
- ALMA Merchandise Store Online store selling branded merchandise including hoodies ($40), crewnecks ($50), t-shirts ($25), long sleeve sun hoodies ($40), beanies ($20), and canvas tote bags ($20), with proceeds supporting ALMA's programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ formerly incarcerated individuals received job training in agriculture, carpentry, landscaping, and entrepreneurship since 2013
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Alma Backyard Farms
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Alma Backyard Farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Alma Backyard Farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LA County Food Equity RoundtablecoreALMA is a grantee of the LA County Food Equity Roundtable grant program. On May 30, 2024, ALMA hosted Community Partners for a celebration and grantee peer learning event of 46 food justice organizations awarded grants totaling $9.8 million serving throughout Los Angeles County.
- Homeboy IndustriescoreCo-founder Erika L. Cuellar previously worked at Homegirl Cafe, a division of Homeboy Industries, before founding ALMA. Ongoing connection through shared mission of supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.
- Loyola Marymount University (LMU)coreBoth co-founders (Erika L. Cuellar and Richard D. Garcia) are LMU alumni. Richard earned M.A. in Pastoral Theology from LMU. Multiple Board members affiliated with LMU including Melissa Bordy (VP of External Relations) and Carolyn Viviano PhD (Professor).
- LA Food Policy CouncilminorJanis Minton listed as reference from LA Food Policy Council. Organization connected to broader food justice network.
- City of Los AngelesminorCity of Los Angeles created a path for on-site healthy food distribution on urban farms located within residential neighborhoods, enabling ALMA's San Pedro Farm Stand operations.
- St. Albert's School (Compton)minorALMA established a lease agreement in the backyard of a church and school in Compton, scaling farming operations to 1.5 acres.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alma Backyard Farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC): South LA community organization running urban agriculture and food access programs; competes for similar foundation dollars and operates within ALMA's service geography.
- Hunger Action Los Angeles: LA food justice nonprofit addressing food insecurity through advocacy and programs; overlaps in food access mission and Los Angeles funder ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- GrowNYC: Large nonprofit running Greenmarkets and urban agriculture programs; comparable farm-stand and youth education programming at much larger scale.
- The Food Trust: Large Philadelphia-based nonprofit focused on food access, farmers markets, and nutrition education; comparable scale and mission breadth in food justice.
Direct peers
- Planting Justice: Oakland-based nonprofit combining urban agriculture with job training for formerly incarcerated individuals; mirrors ALMA's dual mission of food justice and reentry.
- Homeboy Industries: LA-based reentry nonprofit with social enterprises (Homegirl Cafe); shares ALMA's formerly incarcerated workforce development model and overlaps with co-founder Erika Cuellar's prior experience.
- Cultivate Baltimore: Baltimore nonprofit repurposing vacant urban lots into productive farms with workforce development; shares ALMA's vacant-land-to-urban-farm thesis.
- Urban Roots: Austin-based nonprofit using urban farming for youth development and food access; closely parallels ALMA's youth education and farm stand model.
- Mill City Grows: Massachusetts nonprofit operating urban farms and farm stands with youth and community programming; directly comparable farm-based community engagement model.
Emerging players
- Lamp Lighter Community Center Urban Farm: Community-based urban farm programs serving underserved neighborhoods; comparable small-scale social-enterprise urban agriculture model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alma Backyard Farms social profiles
Digital presenceAlma Backyard Farms compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Alma Backyard Farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alma Backyard Farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Alma Backyard Farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alma Backyard Farms 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 Alma Backyard Farms
What does Alma Backyard Farms do?
Alma Backyard Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise that operates urban farms in Compton and San Pedro, California, producing and distributing organic produce through weekly Farm Stands while running paid brunch services. It delivers a job training program in agriculture, carpentry, landscaping, and entrepreneurship for persons formerly incarcerated, and offers youth education programs (Peas-In-A-Pod workshops and Summer Farm Camp) focused on environmental stewardship, nutrition, and cooking.
Is Alma Backyard Farms a public or private company?
Alma Backyard Farms is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alma Backyard Farms founded?
Alma Backyard Farms was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alma Backyard Farms based?
Alma Backyard Farms is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alma Backyard Farms make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are farm Stand Sales, brunch Service, merchandise Sales and youth Program Fees.
Who are Alma Backyard Farms's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) and Hunger Action Los Angeles. Broad incumbents are GrowNYC and The Food Trust. Direct peers are Planting Justice, Homeboy Industries, Cultivate Baltimore, Urban Roots and Mill City Grows. Lamp Lighter Community Center Urban Farm is listed as an emerging player.
Does Alma Backyard Farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alma Backyard Farms.
What industry is Alma Backyard Farms in?
Alma Backyard Farms's product category is Urban Agriculture Social Enterprise / Nonprofit Community Farming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAJ, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms). Its NAICS code is 111419 and its SIC code is 700.