Black Creek Community Farm

What Black Creek Community Farm does

Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF) is a Toronto-based non-profit operating an 8-acre certified-organic urban farm at 4929 Jane St in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood of North York. Originally established by the City of Toronto in 2004 as the Toronto Urban Farm and transitioned to community-led non-profit governance around 2013, BCCF functions as a food justice, education, and community-development hub serving a densely populated, racially diverse, and economically challenged area. Its core offerings span three buckets: (1) training and education programs — Youth Program for BIPOC youth aged 15–29, the free Land Stewardship Program, the Roots to Community Resilience Market Garden Training Pilot for Black newcomers/refugees, Urban Harvest workshops, Community Garden Plots, and student placements with York University and TDSB; (2) food production and distribution — Harvest Share CSA, a Thursday Farm Stand (June–October), an online store, farmers-market presence, and donations of 3,066 lbs of produce annually to four community food banks; and (3) revenue-generating experiences — corporate team building (Freshly Rooted Retreat, Farm Park Beautification, Be a Farmer for a Day), field trips and workshops, venue rental, and the annual Dinner at the Farm fundraiser, with an upcoming Community Kitchen & Resilience Hub set to enable year-round preserve production and chef/entrepreneur support.

The underlying operating model blends urban-agriculture infrastructure (greenhouses, food forest, outdoor classroom, beehives, chickens, bake oven, heritage farmhouse and barn, forested ravine access) with a human-mediated service layer. BCCF employs approximately 22 staff — including an Executive Director, Development Manager, Programs Manager, Community Support Coordinator, Senior Coordinator of Market Garden & Social Enterprise, Farm Park Coordinator, Urban Harvest Program Coordinator, Farm Educator, Social Impact Educator, and Market Garden Facilitators — and engages roughly 62 youth annually through placements, training, and leadership programs. Staff are formally employed through FoodShare Toronto's Supportive Partnerships Platform, while BCCF retains independent governance via a community-elected Steering Committee operating under a Policy Governance Model.

Revenue mechanics rest on six streams: grants and foundation support (Ontario Trillium Foundation, City of Toronto, The Sprott Foundation, W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Toronto Foundation, TD, United Way, Rideau Hall Foundation, CAAWS, Healthy Kids Community Challenge, Weston Seeding Stronger Communities), CSA subscriptions on a sliding scale, Farm Stand and online store produce sales, corporate team-building fees, field-trip/workshop fees, and donations through CanadaHelps with seasonal giving campaigns. BCCF's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on walk-in traffic, word-of-mouth, community partnerships (TDSB, Black Creek Community Health Centre, York University, Afric-Can Food Basket, Jane/Finch Family Community Centre), and annual events such as the 12th Annual Farm Festival (1,117 attendees in 2024). A growing research and reputational profile includes participation in the $3.9M TOsustain project with University of Toronto Scarborough and receipt of the 2014 Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Award.

Name

Black Creek Community Farm

Legal name

Black Creek Community Farm

Website

https://blackcreekfarm.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Creek Community Farm is an 8-acre certified-organic urban farm and non-profit in Toronto's Jane-Finch neighbourhood, delivering food justice programming, youth and newcomer training, CSA shares, corporate team building, and community food access initiatives to residents, schools, and BIPOC communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture & Community-Supported Farming

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC)

Keywords

• Urban agriculture
• Community-supported agriculture
• Food justice programs
• Agricultural education
• Community farming

Headquarters

HQ city

North York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Produce and CSA Sales: Weekly Farm Stand (June-October), Harvest Share CSA program (weekly or bi-weekly produce shares), and online store sales of fresh produce and value-added products like hot sauce, honey, and preserves.
2. Donations and Fundraising: One-time and monthly donations through CanadaHelps, seasonal giving campaigns, and event proceeds supporting food justice programming.
3. Corporate Team Building Programs: Corporate team building experiences including Freshly Rooted Retreat, Farm Park Beautification, and Be a Farmer for a Day packages. Half and full day experiences with seasonal farm-fresh lunch options available. All proceeds support community programming.
4. Field Trips and Workshops: Educational field trips and workshops for schools, with fees supporting programming. Corporate team building programs also available for booking.
5. Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from government programs (Ontario Trillium Foundation, City of Toronto), foundations (The Sprott Foundation, W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Toronto Foundation), and corporate sponsors (TD) supporting operations and special initiatives.
6. Community Kitchen Resilience Hub: Upcoming facility for year-round events, on-site preserve production, and support for local chefs and food entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Black Creek Community Farm operates an 8-acre certified organic urban farm in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood of Toronto, producing and selling fresh seasonal produce via a farm stand, CSA Harvest Share program, online store, and farmers markets. The farm delivers a portfolio of community programs including youth training, land stewardship, urban harvest workshops, and student placements, alongside corporate team-building experiences and event venue rentals. All proceeds and donations support food justice programming, including produce donations to local food banks and youth employment initiatives.

Product overview

Black Creek Community Farm operates as an 8-acre urban agricultural center offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected community programs. The core offerings include: Youth Program and Land Stewardship Program providing hands-on agricultural training; Urban Harvest and Community Garden Plots enabling food sovereignty; Market Garden Training Pilot Program for Black newcomers; and Harvest Share (CSA) providing weekly produce shares. Additional programs include Farm Stand & Markets for direct sales, an Online Store for e-commerce, Field Trips/Workshops for education, Student Placements for experiential learning, Team Building corporate experiences, Event Hosting at the farm venue, Dinner at the Farm fundraising events, Community Kitchen & Resilience Hub for food processing, and the Garden Resource Network for educational resources. The portfolio functions as an integrated food justice ecosystem combining agricultural production, education, community empowerment, and economic opportunity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Program
• Land Stewardship Program
• Urban Harvest Program
• Market Garden Training Pilot Program
• Corporate Team Building Experiences
• Harvest Share (CSA)
• Online Store
• Farm Stand and Farmers Markets
• Field Trips and Workshops
• Student Placements
• Community Garden Plots
• Event Hosting at BCCF
• Dinner at the Farm
• Community Kitchen and Resilience Hub
• Garden Resource Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 31,046 lbs of produce harvested annually from fields and greenhouses
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toronto Parks and Trees FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting farm park development, food forest, and nature trails.
• Urban Harvest TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in urban agriculture initiatives and local food systems.
• FoodShare TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization; staff hired for supportive partnership positions are employed by FoodShare Toronto with work location at BCCF. Deep collaboration in community food programming.
• Toronto Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth authority partner supporting community health initiatives and food safety.
• York UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting student placements, with faculty collaboration through Faculty of Environmental Studies. Executive Director Ohemaa Boateng is alumna.
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation authority partner in environmental stewardship and land management.
• Jane/Finch Family Community CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community partner serving the Jane-Finch neighbourhood.
• Black Creek Community Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth centre partner in the Jane-Finch community supporting food security and health initiatives.
• Toronto Beekeepers CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting beekeeping and pollinator initiatives at the farm.
• Afric-Can Food BasketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-led food security organization partnering on culturally relevant food initiatives.
• Jane/Finch Centre Community MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization serving the Jane-Finch neighbourhood.
• Good Food OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting food access and nutrition initiatives.
• Green ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization supporting sustainability initiatives.
• DTAHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and planning firm supporting farm design and development.
• Park PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting park and community space development.
• Stone Ground Cacao & MaizeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood business partner for value-added products and local food entrepreneurship.
• Toronto Youth Food Policy CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth food policy organization supporting youth leadership in food systems.
• University of Toronto Scarborough (TOsustain Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in $3.9 million TOsustain project studying urban farming's potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve food access, and create more resilient cities.
• Toronto District School Board (TDSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool board partner providing summer youth interns and placement opportunities.
• Centre of Excellence for Black Student AchievementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner supporting Black student success through youth programs.
• Focus on Youth TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner supporting youth employment and development.
• Toronto Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting literacy and learning programs.
• JAYUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization using human rights storytelling to amplify marginalized voices. Partnered on community mural project and visual storytelling.
• Evergreen Brick WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner host for Seedy Weekend events and farmers market presence.
• Hope BloomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalifax-based youth empowerment organization through urban agriculture and social enterprise. Met at Catapult Canada Gathering; exploring future collaborations.
• Arrell Food Institute (University of Guelph)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood institute partner hosting Executive Director Ohemaa Boateng as panel speaker at A Nation's Table event, promoting Canadian food systems discussions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cultivate Kansas City: Kansas City non-profit supporting urban agriculture, food systems, and community gardens. Operates farm sites and educational programming in a comparable urban food justice context.
• The Food Project: Massachusetts-based non-profit operating urban farms, youth employment, and CSA programs. Directly comparable scale and program mix (youth leadership, sustainable agriculture, food access) to BCCF.
• Mill City Grows: Lowell, Massachusetts non-profit running urban agriculture, community gardens, and youth employment programs. Directly comparable in operating urban farm sites, CSA distribution, and food justice focus.
• Soul Fire Farm: New York–based BIPOC-led farm and food justice organization offering training, youth programs, and CSA. Highly comparable in mission (food sovereignty, BIPOC leadership, anti-racism in food systems) and programming mix.
• Urban Roots: St. Paul, Minnesota non-profit operating urban farm sites, youth employment, and CSA. Comparable operational scale and program mix with BCCF.
• FoodShare Toronto: Toronto-based food justice non-profit operating school food programs, community kitchens, and field-to-table initiatives. BCCF staff are employed through FoodShare's Supportive Partnerships Platform, indicating deep operational and programmatic alignment with BCCF's mission.
• The Stop Community Food Centre: Toronto food justice non-profit delivering food access, community cooking, and urban agriculture programs. Operates a similar mix of food bank, gardens, and education, making it a direct operational peer for BCCF.

Broad incumbents

• Evergreen Brick Works: Toronto-based non-profit operating an urban environmental campus including a year-round farmers market. Hosts BCCF at Seedy Weekend and other markets; operates at significantly larger scale across multiple programs, making it a broad incumbent in the same urban sustainability space.

Emerging players

• Hope Blooms: Halifax-based youth empowerment non-profit using urban agriculture and social enterprise. Recently engaged with BCCF through the Catapult Canada Gathering; comparable BIPOC youth leadership and social enterprise model.
• Project GROWS: Virginia-based non-profit farm and food education organization running youth programs and CSA at smaller scale than BCCF. Direct programmatic peer with similar youth/education focus but lower geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bccfarm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZTKrME1bN0ITgLYHUuHXBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackCreekCommunityFarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-creek-community-farm
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackcreekcommunityfarm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 Black Creek Community Farm