What Reno Food Systems does

Reno Food Systems is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, that operates regenerative urban agriculture programs aimed at addressing food insecurity and food sovereignty in the Reno region. Its core operating asset is Park Farm, a 5-acre urban regenerative farm on Mayberry Drive, alongside an additional 15-acre Washoe County-leased pasture preservation project that brings total stewardship to 20 acres and supports Truckee River watershed protection. The organization also coordinates the Paradise Park Community Garden under a partnership with the City of Reno funded by ARPA, runs the Together We Thrive mutual aid cooking program that prepares approximately 100 meals and snacks weekly for Biggest Little Free Pantries, and operates a Sunday Farm Stand (April-November) that accepts EBT with Double Bucks matching.

The underlying practice is regenerative agriculture — cover cropping, composting, no-till soil management, integrated pollinator habitat, hedgerows, rotational grazing, peri-urban livestock integration (goats, chickens, geese), and a high desert food forest built from locally adapted heirloom varieties. The organization nurtures 100+ edible plant varieties across heritage orchard, food forest, and annual vegetable production, and donates roughly one-third to one-half of what it grows to community partners. Additional products include nursery seedlings, a digital cookbook, limited-edition herbal tea, dried lavender, and gift cards sold online, plus free online courses and in-person workshops.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: transactional farm stand and nursery sales; $5 community garden plot rentals; micro product sales ($3-$20 per item); recurring individual donor subscriptions at $5-$50/month tiers; and institutional grants from a diversified base including Mathewson Foundation, Orchard Tree Foundation, USDA, NDA, NRCS, Nevada Division of Forestry, Patagonia, AARP, and City of Reno ARPA funds. Customer and beneficiary segments include low-income community members (the primary segment for produce donations), community learners and educators, senior community members, home gardeners, and the general Reno consumer base, with a horizontal segmentation approach across these groups.

Name

Reno Food Systems

Legal name

Reno Food Systems

Website

https://renofoodsystems.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reno Food Systems is a Reno, Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 5-acre regenerative urban farm, a community garden, and a mutual aid cooking program that produce and distribute food to food-insecure community members while providing education on high desert regenerative agriculture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Urban Farming and Community Food Systems

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421)

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

Regenerative Agriculture (Soil Carbon, Cover Crops, Reduced/No-Till) (AFAGAMAA), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Regenerative agriculture
• Urban farm operations
• Community food access
• Agricultural education programs
• Food equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Farm Stand Produce Sales: Direct produce and nursery sales at Farm Stand open Sundays 3-7PM during growing season (April-November); critical revenue source enabling mission pursuit; accepts EBT with Double Bucks matching program
2. Nursery Plant Sales: Sale of locally grown, adapted perennial and annual seedlings, herbs, and food plants from nursery starting mid-April through growing season
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, recurring monthly/annual supporters, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants; EIN 81-1021982
4. Community Garden Plot Rentals: Rental of 4x8 foot garden plots at Paradise Park Community Garden for $5 per plot; includes ADA-accessible and senior-friendly raised beds
5. Product Sales (Cookbook, Tea, Lavender): Sale of Together We Thrive cookbook ($20), Park Farm tea ($6), dried lavender ($3), and gift cards

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Reno Food Systems operates a 5-acre urban regenerative farm (Park Farm) and co-manages the Paradise Park Community Garden in Reno, Nevada, growing more than 100 edible plant varieties and donating one-third to one-half of production to community partners. The organization sells produce and nursery plants at a weekly Farm Stand, rents community garden plots, offers free online courses and educational workshops, and operates the Together We Thrive mutual aid meal program serving food-insecure community members.

Product overview

Reno Food Systems operates as a nonprofit urban farm organization with a unified portfolio centered on regenerative agriculture and community food access. The core offerings include Park Farm (5-acre production farm), the Farm Stand (weekly outdoor market), Nursery Plants (seedlings and perennials), and Paradise Park Community Garden. Additional products include the Together We Thrive Cookbook (digital download), Park Farm Limited Edition Tea, Dried Lavender Flowers, and Gift Cards. Educational services include free Online Courses on Great Basin gardening. The Together We Thrive Initiative provides mutual aid food distribution and cooking education. All products and programs are integrated through the farm stand and community programming to advance food equity in Reno.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park Farm Flagship 5-acre urban, nonprofit regenerative farm on Mayberry Drive in Reno featuring a heritage orchard, food forest, farm animals, and vegetable production; functions as a public demonstration site for regenerative agriculture and community programming.
• Park Farm Stand Three-season outdoor farm stand at Park Farm selling fresh produce, nursery items, and seasonal u-picks, open Sundays 3-7PM April through October; accepts Cash, Credit Card, EBT, and Senior Farmers Market Coupons with EBT Double Bucks matching program.
• Nursery Plants Sale of cool and warm season fruits, vegetables, herbs, and perennial plants and trees adapted to the Northern Nevada high desert region, with seedling sales typically starting mid-April through the growing season.
• Paradise Park Community Garden (PPCG) Plots Pestic-free community garden at 2745 Elementary Drive in Reno, managed jointly with the City of Reno, offering 12 in-ground 4x8 ft plots at $5 each, 9 ADA-friendly raised beds, and larger plots managed by partner organizations, with weekly Wednesday volunteer days.
• Together We Thrive Cookbook (Digital Download) Digital cookbook at $20 covering basic techniques, recipes, and advice for cooking in large quantities for mutual aid purposes, available for online purchase.
• Park Farm Limited Edition Tea Locally and regeneratively grown tea blend priced at $6 featuring Tulsi (Holy Basil), Anise Hyssop, and Spearmint, available in 10 or 20 tea bag packs for immune, stress, and sleep support.
• Dried Lavender Flowers Locally and regeneratively grown dried lavender flowers priced at $3 available in 0.2oz, 1oz, or 3oz sizes, suitable for use in eye pillows, bath salts, or other calming applications (not for internal consumption).
• Farm Stand Gift Cards Digital gift cards starting at $25 that never expire and are usable at the weekly Farm Stand from April through late October; available online for farm pickup or shipping.
• Online Community Gardening Courses Free community-based online gardening courses such as 'A Year in Garlic Growing' and 'Intro to Gardening & Cooking', complemented by seasonal in-person farm gatherings for seed exchanges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 lbs produce donated in 2025 (including 600+ seedlings)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nevada Farm NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems serves on the leadership committee of this grower-led initiative to support Nevada's specialty crop farmers. The network provides a centralized online platform with agricultural resource library and online forum for connection among Nevada farming community.
• Desert Farming Initiative (DFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems serves as an apprenticeship site for the Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program. Aspiring farmers join the RFS team one day a week as part of their paid positions preparing them to become farm owner/operators in Nevada.
• City of RenocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParadise Park Community Garden is a collaboration between Reno Food Systems and the City of Reno, funded through ARPA funds. The City provides land and funding while RFS coordinates and manages the garden.
• AARPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough City of Reno partnership and AARP sponsorship, RFS hosts monthly senior community gardening, nutrition and cooking education workshops. From 2024-2026, collaboration provides increased food access, nutrition education and garden access to seniors.
• RenownminorOthersPrevious corporate sponsor of Reno Food Systems.
• Greater Nevada Credit UnionminorOthersPrevious corporate sponsor and collaborator; produced video highlighting collaboration with Reno Food Systems.
• Big Valley MortgageminorOthersPrevious corporate sponsor of Reno Food Systems.
• Public HouseminorOthersPrevious corporate sponsor of Reno Food Systems.
• State Council on Food SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems is a member working to revise and implement a State Food Security Strategic Plan for Nevada.
• Urban Agriculture Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems participates in the Urban Agriculture Working Group as part of state food security efforts.
• Local Food CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems is an asset to the newly reformed Local Food Council in the Reno area.
• Local Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReno Food Systems is on the board of the local Conservation District.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Green: National nonprofit that builds food gardens in schools and communities and connects them to food access and nutrition education — comparable to RFS in combining food production, food access, and hands-on education.
• Edible Schoolyard Project: Nonprofit founded by Alice Waters that supports edible education and school gardens nationwide — comparable to RFS's educational programming and community-based food systems mission.
• The Food Project: Nonprofit urban agriculture organization in Massachusetts that grows food on urban and suburban farms, donates a significant portion to hunger relief, and engages youth and volunteers — directly comparable to RFS's regenerative farm + food donation + volunteer model.
• Soul Fire Farm: BIPOC-led nonprofit farm in upstate New York focused on food sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, and food justice education with donated produce and community training programs — closely mirrors RFS's food equity, education, and regenerative practices.
• Pie Ranch: Nonprofit regenerative farm and education center on the California coast that grows food, trains future farmers, and runs food access programs — directly comparable to RFS's regenerative practice + apprenticeship + food donation model.
• Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming: Nonprofit that advances regenerative agriculture and regional food systems through farmer training, public education, and community programming — comparable to RFS's regional food systems and education focus.

Broad incumbents

• FoodCorps: National nonprofit connecting kids to healthy food in schools with a focus on food access and education — addresses overlapping segments (food access, education) but operates at far greater scale and via a service-member model rather than a farm.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Larger, established nonprofit regenerative farm and education center in New York focused on sustainable agriculture, training, and public programming — overlaps with RFS's regenerative agriculture and educational mission at a substantially bigger scale.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit focused on affordable access to healthy, local food through doubling SNAP/food stamp value at farmers markets — directly mirrors RFS's EBT Double Bucks program at the Farm Stand.

Regional players

• Cultivate Charlottesville: Charlottesville-based nonprofit urban farm and food equity program that grows produce for Charlottesville residents experiencing food insecurity — closely comparable to RFS's urban farm + food access + community programming model in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/renofoodsystems
• Instagraminstagram.com/renofoodsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reno-food-systems

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 Reno Food Systems