Sprout MN
Sprout MN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food hub in Little Falls, Minnesota that aggregates produce from 150+ small farms for distribution to schools, hospitals, restaurants, and CSA members, while renting commercial kitchen space and running a Mobile Market across a five-county region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLittle Falls, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sprout MN does
Sprout MN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food hub founded in 2015 by Arlene Jones and headquartered in Little Falls, Minnesota, in a repurposed Crestliner boat manufacturing facility. The organization operates Food Hub & CSA, Inc.'s four interrelated service lines: a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program delivering seasonal produce boxes sourced from 150+ small family farms; a food-hub aggregation and wholesale distribution channel serving schools, hospitals, restaurants, and long-term care facilities; a licensed commercial kitchen rental available 24/7 to food entrepreneurs, with tiered hourly pricing ($14.40–$18/hr) and ancillary dry/cold/frozen storage; and a Mobile Market refrigerated van that brings grocery access to rural food deserts across a five-county region (Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Morrison, and Wadena). Supporting programs include a USDA-funded Farm to School initiative with Brainerd and Crosby school districts, creative placemaking funded by ArtPlace America and Five Wings Arts Council (murals, the Reci-Piece Project pottery lending library, À la cARTe mobile art studios), and community events including the MINCED cooking competition, Summer Harvest Dinner, and Indoor Winter Markets relaunched in late 2025.
The business model blends earned revenue (CSA membership fees, kitchen rental hourly fees, storage fees, food hub wholesale margin, online shop sales via Barn to Door) with philanthropic revenue (tax-deductible donations channeled through 4giving.com, plus institutional grants from Otto Bremer Trust, ArtPlace America, Five Wings Arts Council, and USDA). Pricing is unit-based for kitchen and storage usage and discretionary for CSA donations. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals, volunteer engagement, community events, blog storytelling, Facebook, and earned media via Lakeland PBS, Brainerd Dispatch, and St. Cloud Times. The organization employs 1–10 staff (Arlene Jones as Founder/Director, Natalie Keane as Facility Utilization Director, plus Engagement Coordinator and support staff) and has no disclosed revenue, AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology platform, or pending M&A activity. In 2021 Sprout discontinued its monthly Growers & Makers Marketplace to focus on the more financially sustainable CSA and online store models.
Sprout MN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sprout MN
- Legal name
- Sprout MN
- Website
- https://sproutmn.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sprout MN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food hub in Little Falls, Minnesota that aggregates produce from 150+ small farms for distribution to schools, hospitals, restaurants, and CSA members, while renting commercial kitchen space and running a Mobile Market across a five-county region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sprout MN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Food Hub and CSA Services
- NAICS
- Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Services Administration (Meal Eligibility, POS, Nutrition Compliance) (EDAJAHAJ), Natural/Organic Food Co-ops & Community Natural Grocers (CRAHAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Sprout MN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Little Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sprout MN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- CSA Membership Subscriptions: Community Supported Agriculture program where members purchase seasonal shares of locally grown produce and farm products. Each share features rotating selection of seasonal produce sourced from small regional growers.
- Commercial Kitchen Rental: Rental of licensed commercial kitchen space to food entrepreneurs. Provides 24-hour access to equipment and resources for producing and selling value-added products. Includes dry, cold, and frozen storage rental.
- Food Hub Aggregation & Distribution: Aggregates locally produced fruits, vegetables and shelf-stable items from small family farms for distribution to restaurants, food cooperatives, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and schools.
- Donations & Grants: Accepts tax-deductible donations to support CSA shares for families and individuals in need. Receives grant funding from organizations like Otto Bremer Trust and ArtPlace America.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Kitchen Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Frequent Flyer Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Anchor Tenant Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Dry Storage |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Cold Storage |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Frozen Storage |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donated CSA Shares |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sprout MN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sprout MN is a nonprofit food hub in Little Falls, Minnesota that aggregates locally produced fruits, vegetables, and shelf-stable items from 150+ small regional farms and distributes them through CSA shares, wholesale channels to schools, hospitals, restaurants, and long-term care facilities, a Mobile Market, and an online store. It also rents licensed commercial kitchen and storage space to food entrepreneurs and runs farm-to-school, creative placemaking, and community education programs funded in part by grants.
Product overview
Sprout MN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food hub based in Little Falls, Minnesota that operates as a unified platform of interconnected food access, entrepreneurship, and community programs rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings include a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that connects members with seasonal produce from local growers; a Food Hub that aggregates and distributes local farm products to wholesale buyers, schools, hospitals, and restaurants; Commercial Kitchen Rental providing 24-hour access to licensed kitchen space for food entrepreneurs; a Mobile Market (grocery store on wheels) serving rural communities with limited food access; and an online Shop powered by Barn to Door. Supporting programs include the Farm to School initiative, Creative Placemaking arts initiatives (including the Reci-Piece Project and murals), MINCED cooking competition, Summer Harvest Dinner event, and À la cARTe mobile art studios. The organization works with over 150 small family farms and focuses on increasing healthy food access, encouraging entrepreneurship, and cultivating creativity in Central Minnesota.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sprout Mobile Market: A rural-to-rural initiative and grocery store on wheels that seeks to address access, affordability, and usability of locally grown healthy food in areas with barriers to access across Central Minnesota.
Products and services
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscription-based CSA program delivering rotating boxes of seasonal produce, farm products, meats, baked goods, and farm-fresh eggs sourced from small regional growers in Central Minnesota to member households via pickup at Sprout or designated locations.
- Food Hub Aggregation and Distribution Aggregation and distribution service that sources locally produced fruits, vegetables, and shelf-stable items from 150+ small family farms and delivers them to restaurants, food cooperatives, hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, and Mobile Market shoppers across Central Minnesota.
- Commercial Kitchen Rental Licensed shared-use commercial kitchen space available 24 hours a day with equipment including restaurant ranges, convection ovens, walk-in refrigerators, freeze capacity, and food processing equipment, plus dry, cold, and frozen storage rentals for food entrepreneurs scaling production.
- Mobile Market Grocery store on wheels equipped with refrigeration and freezer systems that brings fresh local produce, meats, and dairy to rural communities with limited food access across a five-county region of Central Minnesota.
- Online Shop (Barn to Door) E-commerce storefront for purchasing local products including pure maple syrup, Minnesota wild rice, organic oatmeal, seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, and other regional goods, operated through the Barn to Door platform.
- Farm to School Program Coordinates farm-to-school and farm-to-institution marketing across a six-county area, working with school districts to incorporate locally grown produce into school meals, including recipe development and implementation support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 150+ small family farms supported with market access
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sprout MN
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Sprout MN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sprout MN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Region Five Development CommissioncoreRegional development commission providing strategic guidance and grant administration for creative placemaking initiatives. Co-developed Growers & Makers Marketplace and ongoing programs. Awarded ArtPlace America funding to Sprout through this partnership.
- Lakeland Public BroadcastingsecondaryMedia partner providing coverage of Sprout programs including Mobile Market launch, documentary premieres, and community initiatives. Airs original documentary content about food and culture.
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC)secondaryResource partner for food entrepreneurs using Sprout's commercial kitchens. Provides free consulting on business planning, legal entities, financial packages, and marketing. Funded through SBA and grants.
- Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)secondaryTechnical services provider for food entrepreneurs including product and process development, evaluation and testing, sourcing materials and equipment. Resource for Sprout's food business development.
- IMED MobilitysecondaryVehicle modification company that customized Sprout's Mobile Market van with wheelchair-accessible lift and maximized interior space for inventory and refrigeration.
- Dying to FilmsecondaryVideo production company creating documentary series documenting Sprout's marketplace development, producer stories, and community programs. Funded through ArtPlace America grants.
- 100 Rural WomensecondaryCommunity organization that organized gleaning event at Boys-N-Berries Farm, donating produce to local food relief efforts through Central Lakes College Food Pantry and Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen.
- Sustainable Farming Association (SFA)secondaryAgricultural organization whose Central Chapter uses Sprout facility for annual meetings and gatherings. Shared commitment to supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture.
- Leech Lake Early ChildhoodsecondaryIndigenous early childhood program partnering on Farm to Early Care initiative to revitalize indigenous languages and foods. Part of creative placemaking efforts.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sprout MN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GrowNYC: Long-established New York nonprofit running Greenmarkets, farm-to-school, and food-access programs. A much larger incumbent operating the same core activities (farmers markets, FTS, food access) as Sprout, providing a scaled-up reference point for the model.
- Wallace Center (National Good Food Network): National nonprofit intermediary supporting food hubs, value chains, and farm-to-institution work. Comparable mission around scaling regional food hubs and aggregating learning across them; positions itself as an ecosystem convener rather than a direct operator.
Direct peers
- The Food Commons: National nonprofit pursuing a 'food hub + kitchen + retail' integrated regional food system model. Conceptually aligned with Sprout's platform approach of combining aggregation, processing, and retail in one regional facility.
- Appalachian Sustainable Development: Nonprofit operating food hubs, farm-to-school, and agricultural development programs across rural Appalachia. Directly comparable food-hub aggregation plus Farm to School delivery model in a rural region.
- Renewing the Countryside: Upper-Midwest nonprofit supporting local food systems, rural entrepreneurship, and farm-to-institution initiatives in Minnesota and surrounding states. Operates in overlapping geography with related mission and programs.
- Farm Fresh Rhode Island: Nonprofit food hub running aggregation, Mobile Market, farm-to-school, and CSA-style programs in a defined region. Closest functional analogue to Sprout's integrated platform of aggregation, mobile retail, and farm-to-school.
- Red Tomato: Northeast nonprofit food hub that aggregates and distributes local produce to retailers and institutions. Comparable mission of connecting small farms to wholesale markets and operating with a lean staff and regional footprint.
- Local Food Hub: Virginia-based nonprofit food hub that aggregates from local farms and distributes to institutions and consumers. Closest structural match to Sprout MN's CSA-plus-aggregation model and similar reliance on regional farmer networks.
Others
- Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota: Statewide farmer membership organization with a Central Chapter that already uses Sprout's facility. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; relevant for understanding the regional sustainable-agriculture landscape in which Sprout operates.
Regional players
- Food Bank of Central Minnesota: Regional hunger-relief organization operating in the same Central Minnesota geography as Sprout. Comparable regional scope and some shared end customers (households facing food insecurity, school and senior feeding), though its model is donation-driven rather than aggregation-based.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sprout MN social profiles
Digital presenceSprout MN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sprout MN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Sprout MN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sprout MN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sprout MN
What does Sprout MN do?
Sprout MN is a nonprofit food hub in Little Falls, Minnesota that aggregates locally produced fruits, vegetables, and shelf-stable items from 150+ small regional farms and distributes them through CSA shares, wholesale channels to schools, hospitals, restaurants, and long-term care facilities, a Mobile Market, and an online store. It also rents licensed commercial kitchen and storage space to food entrepreneurs and runs farm-to-school, creative placemaking, and community education programs funded in part by grants.
Is Sprout MN a public or private company?
Sprout MN is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sprout MN founded?
Sprout MN was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sprout MN based?
Sprout MN is headquartered in Little Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sprout MN make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. CSA Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are commercial Kitchen Rental, food Hub Aggregation & Distribution and donations & Grants.
Who are Sprout MN's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GrowNYC and Wallace Center (National Good Food Network). Direct peers are The Food Commons, Appalachian Sustainable Development, Renewing the Countryside, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Red Tomato and Local Food Hub. Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is listed as an others. Food Bank of Central Minnesota is listed as a regional player.
Does Sprout MN have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sprout MN.
What industry is Sprout MN in?
Sprout MN's product category is Local Food Hub and CSA Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAHAA, Produce Markets & Greengrocers, with a secondary code of EDAJAHAJ, Food Services Administration (Meal Eligibility, POS, Nutrition Compliance). Its NAICS code is 115114 and its SIC code is 700.