Women's Environmental Institute

What Women's Environmental Institute does

Women's Environmental Institute (WEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in North Branch, Minnesota. It operates a 60-acre certified organic farm (Amador Hill Farm and Orchard), an environmental education center, and an environmental justice advocacy program, integrating agricultural production, food access, and coalition-based policy work under a mission centered on women and the environment. WEI coordinates coalition activity with the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI), the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table, the South Side Green Zone, Nawayee, and the Indigenous Food Network, with its EPNI work contributing to the 2024 shutdown of Smith Foundry and Bituminous Roadways.

WEI's core programs include Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, the Fair Table produce-prescription program (launched around 2019-2020 as Veggie Rx, rebranded in 2022, and delivering approximately 2,500 food boxes in 2024), the North Circle Online Farmers Market, Down to Earth educational programming, an on-site FarmStay lodging program, and the annual Will Allen Farmer Training Weekend (running since 2011). The CSA program has grown from 25 members in 2006 to over 100 members today. Underlying assets are primarily physical — certified organic farmland, hoop houses, orchards, lodging facilities, and CSA distribution infrastructure — rather than proprietary technology.

Revenue derives from CSA subscriptions priced at $295-$395, memberships ranging from $48-$250, educational classes at $80-$85 per session, FarmStay accommodations, and donations and grants, including a disclosed $317,000 allocation from the Minnesota state legislature. The customer base spans CSA subscribers, clinic-referred Fair Table participants (channeled through a partnership with M Health Fairview), educational program students, FarmStay guests, coalition partners, and broader advocacy networks across the Twin Cities metro and surrounding Chisago and Isanti counties. WEI operates with 11-50 employees and is not venture-backed; co-founder Karen Clark passed away on June 30, 2026, creating an open leadership transition.

Name

Women's Environmental Institute

Legal name

Women's Environmental Institute

Website

https://w-e-i.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women's Environmental Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 60-acre certified organic farm and environmental education center in North Branch, Minnesota, running CSA, produce-prescription, and coalition programs serving Twin Cities metro and surrounding communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Organic Farming

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Organic farming education
• Community supported agriculture
• Environmental justice advocacy
• Produce prescription program
• Sustainable agriculture nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

North Branch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Shares: Seasonal subscription model delivering weekly organic produce boxes. Spring Greens (6 weeks) at $295, Summer Gourmet (8 weeks) at $395, Autumn Bounty (8 weeks) at $395. Growing from 25 to over 100 members since founding.
2. Membership Programs: Individual/Student memberships at $96/year or $10/month ($120/year), with student rate of $48/year. Organizational memberships at $250/year. Members receive CSA discounts, class discounts, and FarmStay discounts.
3. Educational Classes and Workshops: Down to Earth Environmental and Sustainability Education program offering hands-on classes in organic farming, foraging, herbalism, food preservation, aquaponics, bee-keeping. Classes range from $80-$85 per workshop. Scholarships available.
4. FarmStay Accommodations: Overnight accommodations in farmhouse with Amador Suite (queen bed, private bathroom with jacuzzi) and 3-Bedroom Suite (sleeps up to 6). Two-night minimum. 10% discount for members.
5. Donations and Grants: 501c3 nonprofit relying on charitable donations, grants, and fundraising events including Pizza Nights on the Farm and Red Ball Party work events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WEI operates Amador Hill Farm and Orchard, a 60-acre certified organic farm in North Branch, Minnesota, producing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers that feed its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, the Fair Table produce prescription program, the North Circle Online Farmers Market, and regional farmers markets. Beyond production agriculture, WEI delivers hands-on adult and youth education through the Down to Earth program, the Will Allen Farmer Training Weekend, and workshops, while also offering FarmStay lodging and environmental justice advocacy through coalitions such as the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table and the Pollinator Friendly Alliance. The organization funds this work through a mix of CSA and membership income, class and FarmStay fees, product sales, donations, and grants.

Product overview

Women's Environmental Institute operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered around its 60-acre certified organic Amador Hill Farm and Orchard. The core offerings include a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program providing seasonal produce boxes, the Fair Table (formerly Veggie Rx) produce prescription initiative with healthcare partners, and the North Circle Online Farmers Market for direct-to-consumer produce distribution. WEI's Down to Earth Education Program delivers hands-on classes in farming, herbalism, and sustainability, while the annual Will Allen Farmer Training Weekend provides advanced agricultural training. Additional programs include overnight FarmStay accommodations, a CSA Workshare labor exchange, and educational scholarships. These programs collectively serve WEI's mission of environmental justice through agricultural, food, gender, and racial justice strategies in both urban and rural communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amador Hill Farm and Orchard 60-acre certified organic farm and heirloom apple orchard in North Branch, Minnesota, producing 150+ varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers that supply WEI's CSA, the Fair Table program, farmers markets, and the North Circle Online Farmers Market.
• WEI Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program Seasonal subscription program offering full-share, half-share, and workshare options of certified-organic produce from Amador Hill Farm, distributed via Twin Cities drop sites and on-farm pickup for individual households and members.
• Fair Table (Produce Prescription Program) Clinic-referred produce prescription program (formerly Veggie Rx) that delivers free weekly boxes of WEI-grown organic produce to patients experiencing food insecurity or diet-related illness, operated in partnership with M Health Fairview and additional clinic sites.
• North Circle Online Farmers Market Online farmers market and wholly-owned WEI subsidiary that aggregates produce from a network of local farms and distributes it to consumers through online ordering and designated pickup points in the Twin Cities region.
• WEI FarmStay Program 1,600-square-foot on-farm lodging and event venue at Amador Hill Farm sleeping up to eight people, available for overnight stays, retreats, family events, and agritourism through Airbnb and direct WEI booking.
• Down to Earth Education Program WEI's hands-on adult, student, and youth education program offering classes, workshops, and on-farm learning experiences about organic farming, food systems, and environmental stewardship at Amador Hill Farm.
• Will Allen Farmer Training Weekend Intensive multi-day farmer training event hosted by WEI at Amador Hill Farm, modeled on Growing Power techniques and focused on sustainable and urban agriculture skills for adult learners.
• WEI Annual Membership Annual membership program with individual, household, business, and lifetime tiers that supports WEI's mission and unlocks member benefits such as discounts on classes, events, and FarmStay lodging.
• CSA Workshare Program Workshare program that lets CSA members exchange on-farm labor for a discounted seasonal produce share, supporting accessibility of WEI's CSA.
• WEI Scholarship Program Financial-assistance scholarship program that subsidizes participation in WEI education, CSA, and related programs for individuals facing economic barriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2,500 food boxes delivered to clinics and hospitals through Fair Table program in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Environmental Justice TablecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership helped fund WEI's 2024 Will Allen Farmer Training and built coalition support that resulted in shutdown of Smith Foundry and Bituminous Roadways industrial polluters in East Phillips. WEI joined with MN EJ Table to promote earlier shutdown of Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center (HERC).
• M Health FairviewcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaborative partnership through Fair Table (formerly Veggie Rx) program. WEI and North Circle farmers deliver weekly organically grown produce boxes to M Health Fairview clinics for distribution to patients with food prescriptions. In 2024, delivered nearly 2,500 food boxes to clinics in Chisago, Princeton, Wyoming, and North Branch areas. Part of M Health Fairview's Food Is Medicine Campaign.
• East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011WEI serves as coalition board member in EPNI's nearly decade-long fight to develop community-led indoor urban farm and community hub at former Roof Depot site. WEI joined with EPNI and Will Allen on new partnership with Ministry of Trade and Commerce of Wisconsin (MOTCW). Coalition won $317,000 from MN state legislature for planning and pre-development.
• South Side Green ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEI Activist Executive Director Karen Clark represents WEI on South Side Green Zone Board, reappointed by Minneapolis City Council in 2024. WEI developed multilingual signage for Green Zone neighborhoods translated into Spanish, Somali, Dakota, Ojibwe, Oromo, Korean, and English.
• North Circle FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of small-scale farms in North Branch and surrounding East-Central Minnesota communities. Collaborative partnership through North Circle Online Farmers Market. Farms committed to organic and sustainable farming practices supply produce for Fair Table program.
• Nawayee Center SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative urban school focusing on American Indian youth in grades 7-12. Since 2021, WEI developed school's on-site farm, provided organic farming and aquaculture classes, and delivered CSA food shares. Working with Will Allen to construct 22-foot hoop house and raised beds.
• Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Department of Health initiative collaborating with WEI on Fair Table program delivering produce boxes to local health clinics.
• Indigenous Food NetworkminorOthersWEI provides board representation and collaborates on Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives
• Little Earth of United Tribes HousingminorOthersWEI played leading role in creating urban farm as part of residential housing site in South Minneapolis. WEI provides board representation.
• Wicoie NandagikendanminorOthersWEI provides board representation on this Indigenous education initiative
• Healthy Legacy Steering CommitteeminorOthersWEI provides board representation on Healthy Legacy's Steering Committee focused on environmental health advocacy

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rodale Institute: Nonprofit research and education organization focused on regenerative organic agriculture with farmer training programs; broadly comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit advancing organic farming education, though not a direct CSA operator.
• Organic Valley: Largest organic farming cooperative in the U.S., spanning produce, dairy, and meat; broad incumbent in the organic agricultural space where WEI operates as a niche nonprofit producer.
• Local Harvest CSA Network: National directory and marketplace connecting consumers with CSA farms and farmers markets; functions as a broad aggregator across WEI's CSA category rather than a direct operating peer.

Direct peers

• Suzie's Farm: Certified organic farm in San Diego offering CSA shares, on-farm education, agritourism, and FarmStay-style experiences; comparable in diversified revenue across CSA, education, and farm hospitality.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit educational farm in Sleepy Hollow, NY combining regenerative agriculture, farmer training, and public education programs; comparable as a high-profile nonprofit farm combining CSA-style programming, education, and advocacy.
• Essex Farm: Certified organic CSA farm in Essex, NY offering year-round produce, meat, and dairy shares with on-farm education; directly comparable in diversified CSA + educational farm model.
• Sweetwater Organic Community Farm: Nonprofit organic farm in Tampa, FL operating a CSA, education classes, and volunteer program on community land; directly analogous nonprofit model combining CSA, classes, and community engagement.
• Angelic Organics: Organic CSA farm in Caledonia, Illinois with on-farm education programming and ~20+ year operating history; directly comparable in CSA + education model and Midwest nonprofit-adjacent operations.
• Big River Farms: Minnesota-based certified organic farming program (formerly Minnesota Food Association) that trains immigrant and refugee farmers, operates a CSA, and sells through farmers markets; shares WEI's organic farming + equity/justice + education stack.

Others

• Driftless Area CSA Coalition: Regional network of CSA farms in Wisconsin/Iowa/Illinois providing grower support, consumer education, and CSA promotion; thematically related as a CSA support ecosystem player rather than a direct farm operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/weitcrotc
• Facebookfacebook.com/WomensEnvironmentalInstitute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Women's Environmental Institute