Food Strong

What Food Strong does

Food Strong is a Cleveland-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 by Sara Continenza as an umbrella organization for a School Garden initiative and the Care-A-Van community wellness program. The organization delivers food justice programming across Northeast Ohio, with a portfolio that includes school garden education delivered to 14 Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) schools, a Learning Garden urban farm at East Cleveland's Coit Road Farmers Market, a 3-acre Superior Farm headquarters donated in September 2024 (with 7,000 sq ft farmhouse and 20,000 sq ft church buildings under multi-year development), a Mobile Farm Stand launched in 2023, community culinary education, a Fresh Camp youth summer program, and a Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative. Food Strong's underlying technology stack is modest and nonprofit-typical: WordPress for web, Zeffy for donation processing, and GivePulse for volunteer coordination; the proprietary asset is a school garden curriculum aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards that integrates STEAM, nutrition, entrepreneurship, and social-emotional learning for PK through adult learners. No proprietary technology platforms, AI/ML systems, or data products are disclosed.

Food Strong operates a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining four streams: donations and charitable contributions (individual and corporate giving via Zeffy and targeted capital campaigns for Superior Farm projects); foundation and government grants (Rite Aid Healthy Futures Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Foundation, Saint Luke's Foundation, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Tom and Diane Tyrrell Foundation, and others); program service revenue (Mobile Farm Stand produce sales, culinary class fees, potential future event-space rental at Superior Farm); and special-event revenue (ticketing and sponsorships for the annual Botanical Wonderland gala at Lago Custom Events). Pricing to program participants is either sponsored-free (school garden programs) or affordable/contact-based (culinary classes). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: programming is delivered through school gardens, mobile farm stands, cooking classes, and volunteer-driven farm operations, with awareness built via social media (@foodstrongcle across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok), earned media (WKYC, Fox 8 News, Spectrum 1 News, Cleveland.com, Freshwater Cleveland), and a dense network of partnerships spanning CMSD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Ohio State University, Coit Road Farmers Market, Rid-All Green Partnership, and corporate volunteer programs through Business Volunteers Unlimited (Riverside Company, Nestle Cares, Progressive Insurance). Headcount is 1-10 employees supplemented by AmeriCorps VISTA members and university interns. The organization holds a Candid/Charity Navigator 4-star rating (Registered Charity Number 4209890).

Name

Food Strong

Legal name

Food Strong

Website

https://foodstrong.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Food Strong is a Cleveland-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) that delivers food justice programming across Northeast Ohio, including school garden education in 14 CMSD schools, two urban farms (Learning Garden and 3-acre Superior Farm), mobile produce distribution, culinary classes, and a Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative targeting food-insecure communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Justice and Urban Agriculture Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD), Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Food justice education
• Urban agriculture programs
• School garden initiatives
• Community nutrition education
• Urban farm operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations solicited through the Zeffy platform, annual gala fundraising events, and targeted giving campaigns for specific farm development projects (gardens, housing, vocational training, services, music venue).
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from foundations including Rite Aid Healthy Futures Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Tom and Diane Tyrrell Foundation, Bicknell Fund, Tecovas Foundation, and others. Also includes government support for Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative.
3. Program Revenue: Revenue from culinary classes offered to organizations, farm stand produce sales, and potentially volunteer housing and event space rental at Superior Farm in future years.
4. Event Revenue: Ticket sales and sponsorships for annual gala events such as the Botanical Wonderland gala at Lago Custom Events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Food Strong runs an integrated food justice program portfolio combining school garden education, urban farming, culinary classes, mobile produce distribution, and vacant-lot restoration. It operates urban farms (Learning Garden and Superior Farm), a Mobile Farm Stand, hands-on STEAM-aligned school garden curriculum in 14 Cleveland schools, community culinary education, Fresh Camp youth summer programming, and the Care-A-Van community wellness initiative. The organization is funded primarily through donations, foundation and government grants, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

Food Strong is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization that serves Northeast Ohio with innovative food justice programs. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected community programs including School Garden Programs (garden-based education in Cleveland public schools), the Learning Garden (urban farm at Coit Road Farmers Market), the Superior Farm Fixup (3-acre urban farm headquarters), Mobile Farm Stand (fresh produce distribution), Community Culinary Education (cooking classes and demos), Care-A-Van (community wellness), and Fresh Camp (summer youth program). These programs work together to cultivate food justice by building enduring local food systems, enhancing food access, health and wellness, and beautifying communities through gardens and the arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Garden Programs Garden-based STEAM, nutrition, and entrepreneurship programs for students in 14 Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools. Students design, plant, maintain, and harvest food and flower gardens using a curriculum aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards; programming is provided at no cost through sponsorship from Rite Aid Healthy Futures Foundation and United Way of Greater Cleveland.
• Learning Garden Urban farm and outdoor classroom at East Cleveland's Coit Road Farmers Market hosting field trips, learning experiences, culinary education, and farm stand produce sales. Includes a rain garden, composting toilet, off-grid solar office with walk-in cooler, two gathering spaces, and a raised garden with 30+ beds.
• Superior Farm Fixup 3-acre urban farm on Superior Ave in downtown Cleveland being transformed over five years into Food Strong's headquarters, urban farm, volunteer housing, and community hub with vocational and entrepreneurial training, wellness services, and space for cultural and recreational events.
• Mobile Farm Stand Mobile produce stand launched in 2023 that distributes fresh Learning Garden produce and healthy local products into Cleveland communities with limited fresh-food retail access.
• Community Culinary Education Interactive, hands-on culinary classes and live cooking demonstrations available to community groups and partner organizations; small-group classes accommodate up to 20 learners and live demos serve larger audiences, teaching that fresh foods are both medicine and delicious.
• Fresh Camp Two-week summer camp hosted in partnership with Refresh Collective in which students learn about nutrition, build social skills, and create original rap songs in an outdoor learning environment.
• Care-A-Van Community Wellness Community wellness and food access program providing health and food resources to underserved Northeast Ohio communities; one of Food Strong's two founding programs.
• Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative Program that restores vacant urban lots into productive green space and gardens, originally launched through Cuyahoga County support and currently focused on the Superior Farm Fixup.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grown from 2 to 14 schools served since founding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, strategic and minor.

• Community Greenhouse PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Community Greenhouse Partners gifted Food Strong a nearly 3-acre property at Superior and 67th (6527 Superior Avenue) in September 2024. The property includes a 7,000 sq ft farmhouse, 20,000 sq ft former St. George's Lithuanian Catholic Church, gardens, and hoop houses. Jon Eckerle, Founder and Executive Director of Community Greenhouse Partners, continues to support the restoration through volunteering and general construction assistance.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with CMSD for school garden programs at 14 schools. Food Strong participates in District Wellness Committee and Science Department's CLE4SCI collaborative. Through partnership with CMSD Nutrition Department, every participating school receives a fresh fruit and veggie bar.
• Cleveland Clinic FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerChef April Thompson partnering with Cleveland Clinic Foundation to develop nutrition and weight management programs for Endocrinology and Functional Medicine departments.
• Refresh CollectivestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Refresh Collective to host Fresh Camp - a 2-week summer camp where students learn nutrition, build social skills, and create original rap songs surrounded by nature.
• Trust for Public LandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host Climate Smart Cities Mapping Workshop at Superior Farm. Trust for Public Land's free Cleveland Climate Smart Cities mapping tool helps communities implement climate resilience projects.
• Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Prevention Research Center, student internships, volunteer programs, and law school environmental clinic support. Caleb Curry serves on Food Strong board while pursuing medical degree at CWRU School of Medicine.
• Cleveland State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent volunteers, partnerships with Levin College of Urban Affairs, and public policy programs. Taylor Sniatecki built partnerships with CSU during AmeriCorps VISTA service.
• John Carroll UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent interns from JCU Entrepreneurship Program. Devin Burgess is a junior at John Carroll University working as Learning Garden Associate through the program.
• Ohio State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ohio State University Department of Soil Sciences for technical expertise in urban farming and soil management.
• Riverside Company (BVU Volunteers)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner35+ Riverside Company employees volunteered through BVU to beautify Superior Farm and help protect hoop houses.
• Lago Custom Events / Salerno GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicole Salerno's Lago Custom Events, located at Ernst and Young Tower on East Bank of the Flats, serves as gala venue. Salerno Group provides event support and catering expertise. Nicole Salerno serves as Food Strong Board President.
• Greater Cleveland ConstructionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMark Mazzone, Founder and Owner, brings 60+ years of engineering and construction experience. His firm has been recognized for integrated design-build approach and supports Superior Farm development.
• Rid-All Green PartnershipstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal urban agriculture nonprofit serving Northeast Ohio. Dr. David 'Dr. Greenhand' Hester is one of founders. Food Strong partnered with Rid-All through County-funded Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative.
• Coit Road Farmers MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric East Cleveland farmers market where Food Strong established its Learning Garden. Joseph Jerdonek serves as president of East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society managing CRFM.
• Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer coordination for Superior Farm projects, connecting business employees with volunteer opportunities.
• Wild Thymez Personal Chef ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChef April Thompson's personal chef service. She serves as Culinary Educator for Food Strong, providing cooking demonstrations and culinary classes.
• Progressive InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteers from Progressive Insurance for farm projects. Julia Berkman Sieck works as Product Manager at Progressive Insurance.
• Thompson HineminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSam Weir serves as Real Estate attorney at Thompson Hine, focusing on banking and real estate finance, construction and permanent financing, and tax credit development projects.
• KeyBankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMax Kolman serves as Product Manager for Key's Commercial Card solutions at KeyBank. Max is Food Strong Board Treasurer.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based national nonprofit working on food access, healthy food financing, and nutrition education across multiple states. Larger and broader in scope than Food Strong but overlaps directly on school nutrition, food access in underserved communities, and policy advocacy.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit pioneering produce-prescription and SNAP-incentive programs that connect low-income consumers with local farmers. Operates at significantly larger scale than Food Strong but addresses the same food-as-medicine positioning and partners with regional farm-to-community programs.
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Northeast Ohio with hunger-relief and food distribution programs at much larger scale. A board member of Food Strong (Sam Weir) co-chairs its young professionals group. Most comparable in food access mission but operates through traditional distribution rather than urban farming.

Direct peers

• Ohio City Farm: 5.5-acre urban farm in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood operated by a consortium including the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. Same metro, similar urban-agriculture-plus-education mission, comparable produce-distribution model — directly competes for Northeast Ohio farm-to-school and CSA contracts.
• Community Greenhouse Partners: Cleveland urban agriculture nonprofit that operated the Superior Avenue site and gifted it to Food Strong in 2024. Founder Jon Eckerle now serves on Food Strong's board. Operates vacant lot restoration and greenhouse-based urban farming in the same metro — essentially a sibling organization sharing staff and donor overlap.
• Real Food Farm: Baltimore-based nonprofit operating an urban farm focused on food access, youth education, and workforce development. Closely comparable model combining production farm, school programs, and youth training in an urban core — among the most structurally similar peer programs nationally.
• Rid-All Green Partnership: Cleveland-based urban agriculture nonprofit that operates the Rid-All Farm and Green Legacy Compost. Co-founder David Hester sits on Food Strong's board, and the two organizations partnered through the Cuyahoga County Vacant Lot Restoration Initiative — directly comparable mission (urban ag + food access + job training) and same metro market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsc2eH7xX5ZpNK9CRcjdlXg
• Facebookfacebook.com/foodstrongcle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-strong
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodstrongcle
• TikToktiktok.com/@foodstrongcle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Food Strong