What SPROUT NOLA does

SPROUT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana, that supports small-scale and sustainable farmers and community food systems throughout Louisiana. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Truck-Farm Table (a cooperative marketing service enabling small urban growers to sell produce at the Crescent City Farmers Market), the ReFresh Community Garden (serving 30+ individual gardeners), learning cohorts on climate-smart and urban agriculture, and resource programs including a tool lending library, seed library, greenhouse, and community cooler. SPROUT also administers fiscal sponsorship for community organizations, distributes rapid-response climate mini-grants, and runs a land reparations program that has distributed $500,000 to Black and Indigenous-led land projects in Louisiana.

The organization's underlying infrastructure is physical and community-based rather than technological: community gardens, greenhouses, tool libraries, seed libraries, and community coolers form the operational backbone. Technology use is limited to standard productivity tools (Squarespace websites, Formstack for vendor applications, Donorbox for donations). The organization co-owns the largest heritage seed collection in Louisiana through partnership with LSU Ag Center and the Meraux Foundation. SPROUT functions as a backbone organization for the Louisiana food systems ecosystem, holding leadership positions on GNOGA, LSSAC, and FPAC coalitions.

SPROUT's revenue model is tripartite: foundation and government grants (Novo Nordisk Foundation, USDA, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Greater New Orleans Foundation), individual donations via the Donorbox platform, and modest produce and flower sales through the Truck-Farm Table and community farm. The organization employs 7 staff organized under a shared leadership model implemented in January 2024 with three co-leading directors. It serves four primary segments: established and developing farmers, community gardeners, Black/Indigenous/farmers of color, and community organizations needing fiscal sponsorship.

Name

SPROUT NOLA

Legal name

SPROUT NOLA FARM

Website

https://sproutnolafarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SPROUT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports small-scale farmers and community food systems in Louisiana through farmer technical assistance, community gardens, cooperative marketing, fiscal sponsorship, and land reparations programs for Black and Indigenous food producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Urban agriculture programs
• Community food systems
• Farmer technical assistance
• Community garden services
• Food equity advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization runs primarily on donations from individuals and community supporters. They accept sustaining donations through Donorbox platform.
2. Grants: SPROUT receives funding from foundations and government sources including USDA, Novo Nordisk Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and other grant-making organizations.
3. Produce and Flower Sales: Revenue generated from selling vegetables and flowers grown at their community farms and through the Truck-Farm Table market operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPROUT NOLA is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports established and developing farmers through technical assistance, social support, shared resources (tools, seeds, greenhouse, cooler), market access via the Truck-Farm Table, community garden programming, learning cohorts, fiscal sponsorship, and emergency mini-grants. The organization also administers a Land Reparations Program that directs funds to Black, Indigenous, and farmers-of-color-led land projects and engages in local food-and-land policy advocacy.

Product overview

SPROUT NOLA operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization supporting farmers and community food systems across Louisiana. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Truck Farm Table (a cooperative marketing service for small growers at the Crescent City Farmers Market), the ReFresh Community Garden (serving 30+ gardeners), Learning Cohorts (including Climate and Urban Agriculture programs), and resource programs (Tool Lending Library, Seed Library, Greenhouse, Community Cooler). Additional programs include Fiscal Sponsorship for food system organizations, Rapid Response Mini-Grants for climate-affected farmers, and a Land Reparations Program distributing funds to Black and Indigenous-led land projects. The organization also engages in policy advocacy, farmer technical assistance, and disaster response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Truck-Farm Table Sales channel operating at the Crescent City Farmers Market (Thursdays 3-7 PM) that aggregates and sells vegetables and flowers from local growers, with explicit priority for growers of color, LGBTQ+ growers, Indigenous growers, and growers with limited access to capital or land. Currently supports three growers and recently added flower sales.
• ReFresh Community Garden Community garden on Broad Street in New Orleans that serves as a launchpad for urban farmers and a space for community members to grow food, learn gardening skills, and connect with local food initiatives.
• Lafitte Greenway Community Farm New community farm location on the Lafitte Greenway in New Orleans that expands SPROUT NOLA's urban agriculture footprint alongside ReFresh Community Garden.
• Climate Cohort Learning cohort for farmers focused on climate adaptation and resilience, providing structured peer learning and technical content.
• Urban Agriculture Cohort Learning cohort opportunity for new and beginning farmers in New Orleans covering urban agriculture skills and practices.
• Tool Lending Library Lending program that gives farmers and community members access to shared tools they could not otherwise afford individually, supporting both community gardeners and small-scale growers.
• Seed Library & Heritage Seed Collection Seed library that distributes seeds to growers and a Heritage Seed Collection co-owned with LSU AgCenter and the Meraux Foundation, preserving and sharing culturally and regionally significant seed varieties.
• Greenhouse Program Shared greenhouse production capacity that gives community gardeners and farmers access to propagation and growing space they could not individually afford.
• Community Cooler Shared cold-storage facility that provides farmers and community gardeners with post-harvest cooling capacity essential for produce quality and market readiness.
• Fiscal Sponsorship 501(c)(3) umbrella sponsorship that allows grassroots community projects without independent nonprofit status to receive grants and operate programs under SPROUT NOLA's tax-exempt status.
• Rapid Response Mini-Grants Emergency mini-grant program providing direct cash assistance to underserved farmers in Louisiana in the wake of climate and weather-related crises.
• Land Reparations Program Program that distributes funds directly to Black, Indigenous, and other farmers-of-color-led land projects as a form of reparative capital, with priority for Indigenous land projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed $500,000 in reparations to Black and Indigenous-led land projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition of SPROUT, Acadiana Food Alliance, Big River Economic Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), Louisiana Central, Market Umbrella, New Orleans Food Policy Action Council, and Shreveport Green. Administering $7 million LFPA program and $4 million Novo Nordisk funding.
• Market Umbrella / Crescent City Farmers MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership running the Truck-Farm Table at the Crescent City Farmers Market. During COVID, partnered on local food distribution solutions.
• Greater New Orleans Growers Alliance (GNOGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPROUT sits on the leadership committee of GNOGA, a network for new and seasoned farmers to meet, share resources, and collaborate. This network provides resources for people to try farming and create a social sphere around local farming.
• Food Policy Action Council of New Orleans (FPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPROUT is a member and leader in FPAC's Disaster and Food Production Working Groups. FPAC pushes lawmakers for sustainable reform in food and agriculture laws at local, state, and national levels.
• LSU Ag CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the largest heritage seed collection in Louisiana, co-owned with SPROUT and Meraux Foundation. Also partner in Grow LA program.
• Tulane UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Small Center for Collaborative Design for the Lafitte Greenway community farm shade structure. Multiple staff members are PhD candidates at Tulane.
• Xavier UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner participating in the Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition and statewide food systems work.
• Southern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner participating in the Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition and statewide food systems work.
• Recirculating FarmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food aggregation to sell leftover produce from markets, creating local produce boxes available to the wider community.
• Top Box FoodsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for local produce boxes and food distribution. During Hurricane Ida, partnered with Top Box to operate a community feeding and mutual aid distribution site at Press Street Garden.
• Second Harvest Food BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program distributing food through Louisiana food banks.
• National Sustainable Agriculture CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition that SPROUT participates in for policy advocacy and sustainable agriculture movement building.
• Climate Justice AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition participation for climate organizing and advocacy work in the Gulf South region.
• US Climate Action NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition participation for national climate action advocacy.
• HEAL AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition participation for food systems and environmental justice organizing.
• Leake & Andersson, Attorneys at LawminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner providing support for organizational needs.
• Tulane Small Center for Collaborative DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesigned the shade structure for the new community farm on the Lafitte Greenway.
• Faubourg St. John Neighborhood GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored community garden that is collectively tended by volunteers. Produce is distributed to volunteers, community members, and local organizations.
• Popsie & Vivian'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored Afro-Indigenous garden and farm in the Lower 9th Ward on historic family land.
• Speak Easy FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored 1/4-acre farm growing plants for free community food, medicine, and habitat at 1214 France St. Also offers sliding scale classes and gathering space.
• Below Sea Level AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscally sponsored organization supporting unhoused neighbors in New Orleans under the guise of harm reduction.
• Song CDC & Veggi Farmers CooperativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer sponsee (graduated to independent nonprofit). Rooted in Vietnamese American experience, pursuing full liberation of Black and Indigenous people and People of Color.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EarthShare Gardens: New Orleans–based food justice nonprofit founded in 2002 by a SPROUT board member, operating community gardens in the same metro and sharing SPROUT's mission of equitable community food access through volunteer-driven urban agriculture.
• Top Box Foods: SPROUT partner for local produce boxes and disaster-response mutual aid (Hurricane Ida); comparable as a community-driven food-distribution nonprofit in New Orleans with overlapping farmers and beneficiary populations.
• Greater New Orleans Growers Alliance (GNOGA): Network co-founded by SPROUT's co-founder for new and seasoned farmers to share resources and collaborate; closely comparable as a farmer-support and networking nonprofit operating in the same geography.
• Soul Fire Farm: BIPOC-led farm and food-justice organization in upstate New York running reparations, farmer training, and policy advocacy — directly comparable to SPROUT's land-equity, cohort, and racial-justice programming model.
• Planting Justice: Oakland-based nonprofit operating urban farms, nursery employment, and food-access programs with a racial-equity lens — comparable to SPROUT in combining urban agriculture production, workforce development, and equity programming.
• Market Umbrella / Crescent City Farmers Market: SPROUT's long-standing market partner that runs the Crescent City Farmers Market where SPROUT operates the Truck-Farm Table; both organizations work on small-farmer market access and SNAP/WIC/FMNP voucher acceptance in the same New Orleans geography.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans: SPROUT's LFPA program partner that distributes food through Louisiana food banks; comparable in operating food-system logistics at scale in the same region and sharing SPROUT's anti-hunger, local-produce focus.
• Recirculating Farms: SPROUT's food-aggregation partner for selling leftover market produce into local produce boxes; comparable mission around urban/alternative agriculture and sustainable local food systems.

Broad incumbents

• GrowNYC: Long-established NYC nonprofit running farmers markets, urban agriculture, and food-access programs at city scale; a broader incumbent with overlapping market-access and grower-support offerings but operating in a different metro and at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Mandela Foods Cooperative: Worker-owned cooperative grocery and food-access nonprofit in Oakland serving communities of color; comparable to SPROUT's produce distribution and equity-focused community food access mission, though organized as a co-op rather than a 501(c)(3).

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sprout-nola

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 SPROUT NOLA