Amber Waves

What Amber Waves does

Amber Waves Farm Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit teaching farm founded in 2009 by Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin, operating 45+ acres across Amagansett and East Hampton on the East End of Long Island. The organization is vertically integrated across a farming operation, the Amagansett Farm & Market, a full-service kitchen, the East Hampton Farm Shop (opened 2023), an online store, and a Brooklyn CSA pickup, producing 60 crops (500+ varieties) including vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and grains such as winter wheat, hull-less oats, culinary rye, and popcorn under National Organic Program-aligned practices without synthetic inputs. Underlying technology consists of sustainable organic production methods on conserved land (35 leased acres from Peconic Land Trust and East Hampton Town, plus an owned ~10-acre homebase), an 8-month, roughly 2,000-hour apprenticeship curriculum, and commodity SaaS infrastructure (Farmigo for CSA, HiSawyer for classes, Network for Good for donations, Squarespace for e-commerce, Uber Eats for delivery).

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: prepaid CSA subscriptions tiered by share size and season length (Large shares $290-$1,431; Small shares $200-$999 depending on season), retail and café sales at two physical locations, online ordering for pickup, third-party delivery via Uber Eats, wholesale produce to local restaurants, fee-based education programs (kids classes, birthday parties, corporate team building, flower workshops), and charitable contributions (donations, employer matching, gifts of stock, estate planning, corporate sponsorships). Customer segments include local community and CSA members, families seeking children's educational programming, food-insecure families served through six food pantry partnerships, hospitality and event partners (e.g., LDV at The Maidstone Hotel), and aspiring farmers in the apprenticeship pipeline. The organization is sustained by a hybrid direct-to-consumer, community-led, and event-driven go-to-market model anchored by 275,000 annual free farm visitors, 370+ CSA member families, and a donor base supporting the nonprofit mission.

Name

Amber Waves

Legal name

Amber Waves Farm Inc.

Website

https://amberwavesfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Amber Waves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit teaching farm on eastern Long Island that combines organic food production, CSA subscriptions, retail markets, café operations, farmer apprenticeship, and food security programs across 45+ acres serving East End community members, Brooklyn CSA customers, and food-insecure families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Organic Teaching Farm

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

Keywords

• Organic farming services
• CSA produce subscriptions
• Farm education programs
• Farmer apprenticeship training
• Nonprofit teaching farm

Headquarters

HQ city

Amagansett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscriptions: Community Supported Agriculture program with prepaid seasonal produce shares; members commit to full season and share risks/rewards of farming; provides early-season financing for seeds and supplies
2. Farm Market & Kitchen Sales: Retail sales at Amagansett Farm & Market and East Hampton Farm Shop; cafe and grab-and-go food service; espresso bar
3. Market & Kitchen Discounts: 10% discount for CSA members in market and kitchen while membership is active
4. Donations & Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by donations; employer matching; gifts of stock; estate planning; in-kind gifts; corporate sponsorships
5. Educational Programs: Kids classes, farm field trips, birthday parties, corporate team building, private flower workshops; classes for children and adults
6. Wholesale Produce: Wholesale produce available to restaurants and other buyers; email inquiries for wholesale questions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Amber Waves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit teaching farm that produces and sells organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and grains across 45+ acres in Amagansett and East Hampton. It sells produce directly to consumers through CSA subscriptions, two on-site farm markets/cafes, online ordering, and wholesale channels, while also delivering farmer apprenticeship training, K-12 educational programming, food security/donation programs, and free public farm access.

Product overview

Amber Waves is a nonprofit teaching farm operating as a vertically integrated farm, market, kitchen, and community organization. The core product portfolio consists of the Farm Market & Kitchen (retail and cafe), CSA Subscription (seasonal produce shares with add-on options), and Online Store. Supporting programs include Kids Education (outdoor classes and birthday parties), Farming Apprenticeship (8-month farmer training), Food Security Program (produce donations), and Public Access (free farm exploration). The organization distributes via two retail locations in Amagansett and East Hampton, with digital channels including online ordering, CSA management, and class booking through third-party platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Market & Kitchen Year-round retail market and on-site kitchen at 367 Main Street, Amagansett, offering 500+ varieties of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, grains, flowers, and locally-sourced artisan products including meat, cheese, bread, and pantry staples. The kitchen serves breakfast and lunch with farm-to-table ingredients. Open daily 8am-6pm.
• East Hampton Farm Shop Small retail shop at 64 Park Place, East Hampton, featuring farm-fresh food, espresso, pastries, salads, wraps, smoothies, and green juice with indoor seating. Open every day at 8am.
• CSA Subscription Community Supported Agriculture program offering seasonal vegetable shares in small and large sizes with multiple season lengths (5-27 weeks). Optional add-on shares include bread, cheese, fruit, flower bouquets, and fresh or pantry items from the farm kitchen. Includes pickup options, pick-your-own access, market discounts, and weekly newsletters with recipes. Memorial Day - Thanksgiving large share $1,431; small share $999.
• Online Store E-commerce platform at shop.amberwavesfarm.org enabling customers to place online orders from the Amagansett Kitchen for pickup, browse menu items, and access farm products digitally.
• Kids Education Programs Outdoor classroom and hands-on farm-based learning experiences for children including field trips, weekly classes, birthday parties, story time, and free Exploration Garden sessions. Programs focus on connecting kids to food systems, nature, and community through discovery-based activities.
• Farming Apprenticeship Program Eight-month intensive paid training program (~2,000 hours) teaching aspiring farmers technical skills in plant propagation, cultivation, crop rotations, soil health, harvesting, and tractor work. Includes hands-on fieldwork, written curriculum, market sales experience, and community education participation.
• Food Security Program Charitable initiative donating over 25,000 pounds of produce annually to local food pantries and families in need. Includes the '200 for 200 Campaign' providing gift cards to food-insecure residents, weekly produce donations, and partnerships with Springs Food Pantry, East Hampton Food Pantry, Montauk Food Pantry, and other community organizations.
• Public Access & Farm Exploration Free year-round public access to the working farm including self-guided Farmer Footpath tours through flower fields, chicken coops, and farm overlooks. Open daily for visitors to explore without reservation, with seating areas, picnic tables, and educational programming. 275,000+ visitors annually.
• Birthday Parties & Private Events Farm-based celebration events for children featuring pizza harvesting and decoration, seasonal treats, seltzers, cake, and educational crafts led by farm educators. Minimum 10 children per party, held in the outdoor classroom. Also includes corporate team building and private flower workshops.
• Wholesale Produce Wholesale organic produce available to local restaurants and other buyers; contact [email protected] for wholesale inquiries.
• Amber Waves Farmcast Podcast Weekly podcast hosted by co-founders Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow exploring farming, food, community, with chefs, policy experts, and fellow farmers. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,200 children educated in outdoor classroom in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mill (Food Recycler)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMill makes composting accessible for consumers. In addition to being a corporate donor, Mill supports Amber Waves by making a donation for every purchase of a Mill Food Recycler using their affiliate link. Partnership supports sustainability mission and food waste reduction.
• LDV at The Maidstone HotelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLDV at the Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton Village provides genuine hospitality with a sense of place. They feature seasonal flowers from Amber Waves in guest rooms and dining rooms, bringing nature indoors. LDV's support demonstrates commitment to local agriculture.
• Part WildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPart Wild founders and Amagansett residents are committed to local food security. As a fundraising partner, Part Wild donates a portion of sales to the Amber Waves Food Security Program at co-hosted events. They have also donated work wear for farmers.
• Springs Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor food security partner receiving weekly fresh produce donations. Kira Brandman, Springs Food Pantry: 'Amber Waves Farm is such a generous supporter...With donations of food and flowers, they nourish both the stomachs and hearts of our community.'
• East Hampton Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly fresh produce donations to address local food insecurity in the East Hampton community.
• Montauk Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh produce donations supporting food-insecure families in Montauk.
• Island HarvestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership for food rescue and distribution to those in need across Long Island.
• Food RescuecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partner for food access program. Radika Eccles: 'We are delighted to be partnering with the dedicated team at Amber Waves to supply fresh and healthy produce to underserved communities...Amber Waves' commitment through its innovative Food Access Program is successfully building community, reducing food waste and helping the environment.'
• Children's Museum of the East End (CMEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for children's education and food access programming.
• East Hampton Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh produce donations to support senior community members with nutritious food.
• Bridge Bags (A Good Eats Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroceries-for-a-week program providing food-insecure families with fresh produce from Amber Waves.
• Hamptons Community OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting food access and outreach programs.
• Peconic Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeases 4 fields totaling 35 acres of preserved agricultural land from Peconic Land Trust. Amber Waves co-founder Amanda Merrow serves on the Board of Directors of Peconic Land Trust. Partnership critical to farmland preservation.
• Briermere FarmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA fruit share partner providing seasonal fruit including berries, peaches, plums, pears, apples, melon. Located in Riverhead, operated by McCombe Family since 1970s.
• Balsam FarmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNeighboring farm in Amagansett; CSA fruit share partner farming approximately 200 acres of mixed vegetables, fruits, herbs, cut flowers, and grains.
• Milk PailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA fruit share partner owned by Halsey family farming in Bridgehampton and Watermill for 12 generations; specializes in apple varieties.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment: Nonprofit teaching farm in Freeport, Maine combining organic production, farmer training, and public-education programming. Directly comparable to Amber Waves' integrated farm/apprenticeship/public-access model.
• Angelic Organics Learning Center: Nonprofit education partner to Angelic Organics CSA farm in northern Illinois, delivering on-farm programming, apprenticeships, and food-access work. Comparable as a farm-based nonprofit combining CSA, education, and food security.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit teaching farm in Pocantico Hills, NY that combines a working farm, restaurant, and farmer-training programs. Highly comparable to Amber Waves' integrated farm/education/community model in the greater New York region.
• Quail Hill Farm: Peconic Land Trust-managed CSA farm in Amagansett, NY where Amber Waves' co-founders trained. Operates a CSA, pick-your-own, and farmer apprenticeship on preserved farmland, making it the closest direct peer in both geography and operating model.
• Balsam Farms: Neighboring Amagansett farm growing ~200 acres of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and grains and serving as a CSA fruit-share partner to Amber Waves. Comparable as an East End diversified produce farm with retail and CSA channels.
• Sylvester Manor Educational Farm: Nonprofit educational farm on Shelter Island, NY with CSA, public programming, and farmer training on conserved land. Directly comparable to Amber Waves as a mission-driven, conservation-eased farm with CSA and education revenue.
• Glynwood Center for Regional Food & Farming: Nonprofit regional food and farming organization in Cold Spring, NY operating a working farm with apprenticeships, public programming, and food-access initiatives — closely mirroring Amber Waves' teaching farm and community mission.

Regional players

• Threshold Farm: Long-running biodynamic CSA farm in the North Fork of Long Island with on-site farm shop and pick-your-own. Comparable East End CSA/market farm, though operating on a smaller scale and without Amber Waves' nonprofit teaching mandate.

Emerging players

• Hudson Valley Seed Co. Regional seed and farm company in Accord, NY producing certified-organic seeds, flowers, and farm products with a strong educational and brand-building mission. Adjacent peer with overlapping values (organic, education, regional food system) and comparable direct-to-consumer retail.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Agroecology at UC Santa Cruz: University-based teaching and research farm running the renowned Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. Comparable as a higher-education-adjacent farmer training and sustainable-agriculture demonstration program, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@amberwavesfarmNY
• Instagraminstagram.com/gab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amber-waves-farm-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Amber Waves