Raleigh City Farm

What Raleigh City Farm does

Raleigh City Farm is a nonprofit urban farm founded in 2011 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, that operates on regenerative agriculture principles to address food insecurity, deliver agricultural education, and engage the local community. The organization currently operates across two sites totaling 2.7 acres: the original 1.2-acre Blount Street location at 800 N. Blount Street (expanded in 2024 via the adjacent Blount and Delway parcels in partnership with JT Hobby & Son) and a second location at Marsh Creek Park (3050 N. New Hope Road) announced in November 2025 in partnership with the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Its core products and programs include the Farmshare Program, which donates approximately 50% of annual yield (6,394 lbs in 2024) to more than 10 nonprofit partners addressing food insecurity; a seasonal Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand operating April through November at the Blount Street site and a secondary location at The Salvation Army of Wake County; the Internship Program (launched 2020, 60+ graduates) and CEFS Apprenticeship in partnership with NC State, NC A&T, and the NC Department of Agriculture; the Farm to Camp youth education program; an Artist in Residence program; an Apiary supporting pollinators; educational tours; and signature community events such as the annual Harvest Dinner fundraiser. Production uses regenerative practices including cover crops, integrated pest management, crop rotation, interplanting, high tunnel and greenhouse season extension, and apiary-supported pollination.

Raleigh City Farm's business model combines donations (individual giving, recurring Cultivator Club memberships, board giving) with foundation and corporate grants, modest Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand sales, and event-based fundraising (Harvest Dinner, Bearthday celebrations). The farm reports 50% YoY revenue growth in 2024 and ended the year with a cash position of approximately $170,000 (about six months of operating expenses). In 2024 the organization launched the Future Farms Fund, which had secured $113,000 in gifts and pledges toward a $200,000 expansion goal as of early 2025. The core team is small (Executive Director Lisa Grele Barrie, Farm Managers Maria Williford and Colleen Yeager, Program Coordinators Talyr Johnson and Anton Fatula), supplemented by a seasonal intern cohort of nine in 2024.

Name

Raleigh City Farm

Legal name

Raleigh City Farm

Website

https://raleighcityfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Raleigh City Farm is a nonprofit urban farm operating 2.7 acres across two Raleigh, NC sites, producing food for food-insecure residents via the Farmshare program and a Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand while delivering regenerative agriculture education, internships, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture & Community Farming Services

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Urban agriculture
• Nonprofit farming
• Food access programs
• Regenerative agriculture
• Agricultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, monthly Cultivator Club memberships, and annual fundraising campaigns including Harvest Dinner events. Grants from foundations and corporations support specific programs.
2. Farmstand Sales: Seasonal Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand sales April-November. Revenue supports Farmshare program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Raleigh City Farm operates a nonprofit urban farm across two Raleigh locations (2.7 total acres), growing produce using regenerative agriculture methods. It distributes 95% of its harvest through the Farmshare Program (donations to food-security nonprofits) and the Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand (direct community sales). The farm also delivers agricultural education and community programs including internships, apprenticeships, Farm to Camp youth education, and volunteer engagement.

Product overview

Raleigh City Farm is a nonprofit urban farm operating two locations (Blount Street and Marsh Creek Park) with a mission to connect and nourish the community through regenerative agriculture. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including the Farmshare Program (food distribution to nonprofits), Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand (direct produce sales), Internship and CEFS Apprenticeship programs (agricultural training), Farm to Camp (youth education), Artist in Residence (creative programming), volunteer opportunities, educational tours, and annual events such as Harvest Dinner. The farm emphasizes food security, having made 95% of its harvest affordable and accessible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farmshare Program Year-round produce donation and distribution program that shares Raleigh City Farm's harvest with 10+ local nonprofit partners addressing food insecurity, with 95% of the harvest made affordable and accessible.
• Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of harvest is affordable and accessible to community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Raleigh Parks (City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Expansion into second location at Marsh Creek Park announced November 2025. Partnership with City of Raleigh Parks department enables RCF to establish a second urban farm site to expand mission impact and grow more produce for the community.
• Feed the Pack Food Pantry at NC StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Farmshare partner added in 2024. Feed the Pack has seen unprecedented demand, marking its busiest year. Since August 2024, RCF donated nearly 500 pounds of produce. Partnership addresses food insecurity among NC State community members.
• Oak CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVertical farming collaborators founded October 2020, sharing RCF greenhouse space, water, and electricity. Oak Collective grows microgreens and vegetables using sustainable methods. Products sold at RCF Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand.
• Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative between NC State, NC A&T, and NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. RCF hosts CEFS Apprentices who gain hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture. Partnership builds next generation of farmers.
• JT Hobby & SoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandlord partner who owns and manages Person Street Plaza. Enabled 2024 expansion with Blount/Delway parcels at 800 N. Blount and 206 Delway, increasing farm footprint by 20% to 1.2 acres.
• The Salvation Army of Wake CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year partnership for Farm to Camp program bringing agricultural education to youth. Also hosts secondary Farmstand location at 902 Wake Forest Rd. Collaborated on 2024 USBG/APGA grant application.
• Jerry's ArtaramaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Raleigh business sponsoring Julia Einstein's Artist in Residence residency at the farm. Supports art and community engagement initiatives.
• Pullen Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Artist in Residence Julia Einstein's Field Studies exhibition featuring supersized painting and living installation showcasing farm botanical subjects.
• Logan's Garden ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Raleigh business sponsoring Pollinator Week 2020 activities at the farm. Supports community education and engagement events.
• NC State GrangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership includes membership engagement, volunteering, and financial contributions to ensure RCF sustainability. Summer 2025 intern Rachel Johnson participated through this program.
• USDA The People's GardenminorOthersRecognized as a People's Garden, part of USDA initiative for community gardens promoting sustainable agriculture and food access.
• Food Bank of Central & Eastern NCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner through Middle Mile Program, distributing RCF produce to food-insecure populations across central and eastern North Carolina.
• Inter-Faith Food ShuttlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing Farmshare partner distributing RCF produce to communities facing food insecurity in the Raleigh area.
• Catholic Parish OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner receiving RCF produce donations for distribution to community members in need.
• Carolina CaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner receiving RCF produce donations for healthcare-affiliated food distribution programs.
• Alliance of Aids Services - CarolinasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner receiving RCF produce donations for distribution to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Logan's Plant A Row for the HungryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner connecting RCF produce with community members facing hunger.
• A Place At The TablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner restaurant/cafe providing meals to food-insecure individuals, receiving RCF produce donations.
• Poe Center for Health EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmshare partner providing health education while distributing RCF produce to communities.
• ArtspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross City Pollination Year 2 project partner with Art on the Go van, collaborating with RCF Artist in Residence Julia Einstein.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Intervale Center: Burlington, VT-based nonprofit supporting sustainable agriculture through farm incubation, food access programs, and community gardens. Comparable in nonprofit operating model, regenerative-agriculture focus, and multi-program portfolio addressing food systems.
• GrowNYC: New York City-based nonprofit running urban agriculture, farmers' market, and food-access programming including farmstands and youth education. Comparable on combining direct-to-community produce sales, donation channels, and educational programming.
• Urban Roots: Nonprofit urban farm in Austin, TX using regenerative agriculture to grow and distribute produce to the community while training youth interns. Directly comparable mission, scale, and program mix to Raleigh City Farm.
• Dig Deep Farms: Alameda County, CA-based nonprofit urban farm program operating small agricultural sites to address food insecurity in underserved communities. Directly comparable in combining production farming with food-distribution-to-nonprofit-partners model.
• The Food Project: Nonprofit operating urban and suburban farms in the Greater Boston area that grow produce for food-insecure communities while training youth in sustainable agriculture. Highly comparable operating model, internship pipeline, and dual food-access/education mission.
• Planting Justice: Oakland, CA-based nonprofit that operates urban gardens and food forests addressing food insecurity and providing green jobs. Comparable urban-agriculture, food-access, and education mission with similar nonprofit community-engagement model.
• Jones Valley Teaching Farm: Nonprofit urban farm in Birmingham, AL focused on food access and education through school-based programming and a working production farm. Closely comparable to RCF in combining crop production, youth/adult education, and food-insecurity programming on a small urban footprint.
• Michigan Urban Farming Initiative: Detroit-based nonprofit urban farm focused on food security, education, and community development on vacant urban land. Comparable in mission, urban-vacant-lot utilization, and food-donation programming, though larger in scale.
• CommonWealth Urban Farms: Small nonprofit urban farm in Tulsa, OK operating microfarms focused on local food production, education, and community building. Comparable in scale, mission, and educational programming mix.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Much larger nonprofit farm and education center in Pocantico Hills, NY focused on regenerative agriculture, farmer training, and public programming. Comparable regenerative-agriculture and education mission but operates at substantially greater scale and budget than RCF.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Raleigh City Farm