Wild Hope Farm

What Wild Hope Farm does

Wild Hope Farm is a USDA Certified Organic farm located in Chester, South Carolina, founded in 2017 by Sarah and Tim Belk as a privately held family operation. The farm transforms historically eroded agricultural land — formerly forest, then dairy, then corn and hay production — into a diversified organic operation using regenerative practices including cover cropping, reduced tillage via tarping, composting, pollinator habitats, native grass restoration, drip irrigation, and high tunnel season extension. Over approximately 8 years, production scaled from 1 acre to 13 acres, with the CSA program growing to serve 350-450 members and the farm producing 75+ varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs plus cut flowers year-round.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model centered on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions. CSA members purchase Regular ($40/week) or Small ($30/week) vegetable shares across three seasonal programs (Spring/Summer 14 weeks, Fall 14 weeks, Winter 10 weeks), with optional add-on modules including pasture-raised eggs ($126), Verdant sourdough bread ($170), English muffins, herbal tea ($116), and flower shares. Beyond CSA, the farm sells direct at Matthews and Uptown Farmers Markets every Saturday, distributes wholesale to food hubs and farm-to-table restaurants/breweries throughout the Carolinas, operates an online pre-order store with pickup at six distributed locations, and runs an events/workshops program (mushroom cultivation, wreath making, flower arranging, herbal salve, indigo dying, weddings at $130/bucket, and Outstanding in the Field farm-to-table dinners). The farm holds USDA Certified Organic, FSMA, and GAP certifications and operates a 35.49 kW solar PV array supporting net-zero energy goals.

The organization employs approximately 15 people including 5-7 H2A workers from Mexico and 8-10 domestic staff, with full-time employees receiving benefits including 5+ days paid vacation, 401k with 3% matching after one year, healthcare stipend ($150/month), and subsidized on-farm housing. Leadership comprises co-founders Sarah and Tim Belk, Katherine "Peanut" Belk in business operations, Farm Manager Ben Dubard, Assistant Farm Manager Mary Stone, plus specialized roles (Flower Lead, Herb/Propagation Manager, Cultivation Chief, Quality Control). Strategic partnerships with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Clemson University, Georgia Organics, and Renu Energy Solutions support educational programming and renewable energy infrastructure. The farm does not disclose revenue and has no external institutional investors.

Name

Wild Hope Farm

Legal name

Wild Hope Farm

Website

https://wildhopefarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wild Hope Farm is a USDA Certified Organic CSA farm in Chester, South Carolina, serving 350-450 members with vegetable shares, cut flowers, and add-on products via CSA subscriptions, farmers markets, wholesale distribution, and on-farm events throughout the Carolinas region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture

NAICS

Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• USDA organic produce
• CSA produce shares
• Farmers market vegetables
• Restaurant wholesale produce
• Certified organic farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscriptions: Seasonal Community Supported Agriculture program with vegetable shares (regular $40/week, small $30/week), flower shares, and add-ons (bread, eggs, herbal tea). Multiple seasons: Spring/Summer (14 weeks), Fall (14 weeks), Winter (10 weeks). Revenue collected upfront at start of each season.
2. Farmers Market Sales: Direct sales at Matthews Farmers Market and Uptown Farmers Market every Saturday. Customers can also pre-order online for pickup at market.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale produce and flower sales to food distributors and local farm-to-table restaurants and breweries. Serves both one-off events and weekly recurring orders.
4. Special Events and Workshops: Flower arrangements for weddings and events, bucket sales for DIY events ($130/bucket), workshop fees for farm tours, mushroom cultivation, wreath making, flower arranging, herbal salve, indigo dying, and farm festivals.
5. Plant Sales: Seasonal organic transplant sales including vegetables, flowers, and herbs with optional pickup or in-person shopping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wild Hope Farm is a Certified Organic vegetable and herb farm in Chester, South Carolina that grows produce and sells it through CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) produce-share subscriptions, direct sales at local farmers markets, and wholesale channels to restaurants and food-service buyers in the Charlotte, NC region.

Product overview

Wild Hope Farm operates as a USDA Certified Organic diversified farm offering a multi-channel product portfolio centered around its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The core offering consists of vegetable shares (Regular at $40/week for 2-4 people, Small at $30/week for 1-2 people) available across three seasonal programs (Spring/Summer 14 weeks, Fall 14 weeks, Winter 10 weeks). The CSA program serves as the primary revenue driver, supplemented by add-on modules including Flower shares, Egg shares, Verdant Sourdough Bread shares, Herbal Tea shares, and English Muffin shares. Beyond the CSA, the farm sells fresh produce and cut flowers directly at two farmers markets (Matthews and Uptown) every Saturday, and distributes wholesale to food hubs, farm-to-table restaurants, and breweries throughout the Carolinas. The farm also offers seasonal plant sales, fee-based farm tours, and educational workshops (flower arranging, mushroom cultivation, herbal salve making). The integrated online pre-order system allows customers to reserve products for pickup at multiple distribution points. This multi-product approach enables year-round engagement with 350-450 CSA members while maximizing revenue per acre through diversified sales channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic CSA Produce Share Subscription-based weekly or seasonal share of USDA Certified Organic vegetables and herbs delivered to or picked up by local consumers in the Charlotte, NC region.
• Farmers Market Produce Direct retail sales of USDA Certified Organic seasonal vegetables and herbs to individual consumers at local farmers markets.
• Restaurant and Food-Service Wholesale Produce Wholesale supply of USDA Certified Organic seasonal vegetables and herbs to restaurants and food-service buyers in the Charlotte, NC region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350-450 CSA members served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025CFSA hosts on-farm workshops and field days at Wild Hope Farm, including organic management strategies, soil health, and scaling for wholesale success. Farm managers Ben, Mary, and Peanut serve as guides and educators.
• Outstanding in the FieldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2025Farm serves as a destination on Outstanding in the Field's Southeastern tour for farm-to-table dinner events. Chef Greg Collier from Leah & Louise creates the meal.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Clemson University's New and Beginning Farmer Program hosted an Advanced Series Workshop at Wild Hope Farm covering organic production, certification process, and business aspects of organic farming.
• Georgia OrganicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2023Farm team members present at Georgia Organics Conference on topics including scaling a CSA and innovative marketing tools. Peanut spoke at 2025 SOWTH Conference.
• Renu Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2022Renu Energy Solutions supported Wild Hope Farm's journey to net zero with new solar installations, including the 35.49 kilowatt solar PV array.
• Myers Park Presbyterian Church Outreach CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA pickup location partner - serves as designated pickup spot for CSA members on Tuesdays 3-5:30pm.
• Resident Culture BreweryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA pickup location and pop-up sales venue - hosts weekly CSA pickup and farm product sales on Tuesday evenings.
• Harris YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA pickup location partner - serves as designated pickup spot for CSA members on Thursdays 4-5:30pm.
• Chester Food PantryminorOthersCSA members can donate their weekly share to the Chester food pantry for families in need, providing food security support.
• Kudzu Bakery & MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA pickup location partner - serves as designated pickup spot for CSA members on Wednesdays 3-6pm in Rock Hill, SC.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Suzie's Farm: Certified organic farm offering CSA shares, farmers markets, and farm dinners — comparable high-variety organic production with direct-to-consumer focus.
• Full Belly Farm: Iconic certified organic CSA farm with on-farm events, weddings, and educational programs — highly comparable diversified organic model with CSA and agritourism flywheel.
• Coon Rock Farm: Family-owned organic farm in central North Carolina operating CSA subscriptions, restaurant supply, and farm events — close parallel in scale, customer segments, and regenerative practices.
• Tumbleweed Farm: Small-scale organic CSA farm with floral program and on-farm events — comparable multi-stream model combining produce, flowers, and events on a similar acreage footprint.
• Black Trumpet Farm: Small-scale organic farm in the Carolinas producing diversified vegetables, flowers, and herbs for CSA and farm-to-table restaurants — comparable product mix and CSA/wholesale channel strategy.
• Fickle Creek Farm: North Carolina diversified organic farm offering CSA shares, on-farm events, and wholesale produce — directly comparable product mix, CSA-first model, and education/workshop programming.
• Hickory Nut Gap Farm: Diversified organic farm in the Carolinas operating CSA, farmers markets, and wholesale to restaurants — similar geographic market, customer base, and multi-channel direct-to-consumer model as Wild Hope.

Others

• Barn2Door: SaaS platform serving direct-to-consumer farms with online stores, CSA management, and pre-ordering — operates in the same ecosystem as Wild Hope's online pre-order and CSA operations.

Broad incumbents

• White Oak Pastures: Large regenerative organic farm in Georgia offering CSA, on-farm dining, and wholesale — operates at a much larger scale but represents the broader incumbent model Wild Hope is emulating.

Regional players

• Maple View Farm: North Carolina farm offering CSA, farm store, and ice cream/dairy retail — comparable regional direct-to-consumer footprint and on-farm experience model, though with a different core product mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wildhopefarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildhopefarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-hope-farm

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Wild Hope Farm