Hilltop Urban Farm

What Hilltop Urban Farm does

Hilltop Urban Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community farm located on 107 acres at 700 Creswell Street in Pittsburgh's St. Clair neighborhood, with 23 acres actively dedicated to farming in a USDA-designated food desert. Founded as an independent nonprofit on June 14, 2019 after being incubated by the Hilltop Alliance since 2013, the organization operates three core programs: the Community Farm Plot (delivering culturally relevant vegetables to local food pantries and underserved families), the Youth Farm (year-round agricultural education for school-aged children across summer camps, after-school, and school curriculum partnerships), and a 3-year Farmer Incubation Program that trains aspiring adult urban farm entrepreneurs. The farm also maintains the largest orchard in the City of Pittsburgh, with 175+ production fruit/nut trees and a separate 47-tree Youth Farm orchard.

The organization is funded by a diversified base of individual tax-deductible donations ($50-$1,000 tiers) and grants from at least seven major Pittsburgh foundations, including Hillman Family Foundations, PNC Foundation, Key Bank Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Foundation, Neighborhood Allies, and Forbes Funds. Ancillary revenue comes from an undisclosed annual Farmer Incubation Program participation fee, modest produce and honey sales (the Youth Farmer's Market generated ~$400 in its first four months), and value-added products like Threadbare Cider House's annual 500-gallon cider batch. Distribution is local/regional only, with honey sold at Pittsburgh SMBs (Spring Hill Brewing, Espresso a Mano, 4121 Main) and produce routed through community farm plots and food pantries. Core technology is permaculture and regenerative agriculture practice, including a documented soil-rebuilding methodology (576 cubic yards of mushroom compost, three seasons of organic cover crops) and infrastructure such as solar-powered mobile cooler trailers, hoop houses, and a shared tool library.

The operation is lean, with only 3 full-time directors and an 11-member board of directors as of August 2019. Strategic partners include Allegheny Land Trust (working toward permanent land conservation), Penn State Extension, Grow Pittsburgh, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (property owner), Hilltop Alliance, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (which prequalifies FIP graduates for its Farm-A-Lot preserved farmland program). The farm's stated goal is to become the largest urban farm in the United States, with claims that at full production it will quadruple produce grown within the City of Pittsburgh. Operational status is active, though the Farmer Incubation Program is currently paused for 2026 applicant enrollment pending programmatic evaluation.

Name

Hilltop Urban Farm

Legal name

Hilltop Urban Farm

Website

https://hilltopurbanfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hilltop Urban Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 23-acre urban farm on a 107-acre site in Pittsburgh's St. Clair food desert. It runs a Community Farm Plot feeding local pantries, a Youth Farm providing agricultural education to schoolchildren, and a 3-year Farmer Incubation Program for aspiring urban farm entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Urban Farm Services

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Greenhouse & Protected Crop Farming (High Tunnels, Greenhouses) (AFAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Urban agriculture
• Community farm
• Farmer incubation
• Agricultural education
• Food access

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting tax-deductible donations at various levels ($50-$1000) supporting seeds, tools, compost, youth apprentices, transportation, and infrastructure
2. Farmer Incubation Program Participation Fee: Annual Program Participation Fee charged to participants for access to rehabilitated urban farming acres, storage, solar electric, hoop houses, mobile coolers and shared tool library
3. Farm Product Sales: Produce and honey sold through youth farmer's markets and local Pittsburgh businesses. Farmers grow produce for Pittsburgh region markets.
4. Foundation and Corporate Funding: Funding from foundations including Hillman Family Foundations, PNC Foundation, Key Bank Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Neighborhood Allies, Pittsburgh Foundation, and Forbes Funds

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hilltop Urban Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit urban farm in Pittsburgh's Hilltop neighborhoods, operating on 107 acres with 23 acres dedicated to farming. The farm produces locally-grown crops through its Community Farm Plot, provides hands-on agricultural education for school-aged children at the Youth Farm, and runs a 3-year Farmer Incubation Program that trains aspiring urban farm entrepreneurs with access to rehabilitated farming acres, infrastructure, and mentorship.

Product overview

Hilltop Urban Farm is a nonprofit community-centered farm in Pittsburgh's Hilltop community, located on 107 acres with 23 acres dedicated to farming. The organization operates as a multi-pronged initiative with two core programs: the Youth Farm (a hands-on agricultural education space for children with garden beds and orchards) and the Farmer Incubator Program (a 3-year workforce development training for aspiring urban farmers). Additional offerings include the Community Farm Plot providing culturally relevant vegetables to food pantries, a Production Orchard (the largest in Pittsburgh with over 175 fruit and nut trees), and a Youth Farm Orchard. The farm aims to produce locally-grown crops, provide agriculture-based education, generate entrepreneurial opportunities, and strengthen communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Farm Plot A program that grows culturally relevant vegetables on Hilltop Urban Farm acreage to ensure fresh, nourishing food reaches local food pantries and underserved families in the Hilltop neighborhoods.
• Youth Farm A hands-on learning space for school-aged children from the Hilltop communities featuring a one-acre deer-fenced area with 21 raised garden beds and a youth orchard, engaging youth in seasonally appropriate agricultural activities such as planting, tending crops, harvesting, and food exploration.
• Farmer Incubation Program (FIP) A 3-year workforce development program for aspiring small-scale organic urban farm entrepreneurs aged 18+. Participants gain access to rehabilitated urban farming acres, storage, solar electric, hoop houses, mobile coolers, and a shared tool library, along with farm business management skills, food growing techniques, and mentorship.
• Production Orchard The largest orchard in the City of Pittsburgh, planted May 4, 2019, featuring over 175 fruit and nut trees including apricot, elderberry, apple, hazelnut, cherry, peach, pear, persimmon, and serviceberry, plus 52 cider trees in partnership with Threadbare Cider House.
• Youth Farm Orchard A 47-fruit-tree orchard established in May 2018 within the Youth Farm space, supplemented by 20 restoration chestnut trees planted in September 2018 in partnership with the American Chestnut Planting Foundation and Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 443 youth engaged in first four months of youth programs, exceeding goal of 250 for first twelve months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hilltop AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Incubated Hilltop Urban Farm project from 2013 to 2019. Collaborative organization comprising 11 South Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Has renewable site access agreement with HACP and ALT. Shares office space with Hilltop Urban Farm.
• Allegheny Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally accredited conservation land trust. Working to acquire and permanently conserve Hilltop Urban Farm (23 acres) and unbuildable hillsides (63 acres). Environmental Education team brings 25+ years experience as partner of Youth Farm.
• Penn State Extension Allegheny CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides consulting services during development and education programming at Youth Farm and Farmer Incubation Program. Consultant in developing Feasibility Study in 2013-2014 with Grow Pittsburgh. Connects faculty and students to research opportunities.
• Grow PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner of Youth Farm. Brings School Garden Program curriculum, teacher training modules, and expertise to partnership with Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 and New Academy Charter School.
• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP)coreOthersOwns the 107-acre former St. Clair Village site. Site access agreement allows Hilltop Urban Farm projects and programs.
• Mt. Oliver City/St. Clair Community GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident-led volunteer organization that requested Hilltop Alliance explore redevelopment of vacant 107-acre HACP property in 2012. Supports ongoing development through neighborhood outreach and engagement.
• Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents, parents, and teachers participate in curriculum during school, after school, and on-site at Youth Farm. $10 million reinvestment school with 363 enrolled students, 85%+ economically disadvantaged.
• New Academy Charter High SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission to engage students in variety of education experiences. Brings high school students to Youth Farm from Arlington location. Students volunteer weekly.
• Lighthouse CathedralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-denominational church two blocks from site. Hosts after-school and summer program for 150 children ages 5-15. Youth Farm partner. Hosted public meetings for Feasibility Study in 2014.
• The Fruit Tree Planting FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanted largest orchard in City of Pittsburgh on May 4, 2019. Partnered on both Production Orchard (175+ trees) and Youth Farm Orchard (47 trees). Continues to provide technical support and additional tree plantings.
• Plant Five for LifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Hilltop Urban Farm and Fruit Tree Planting Foundation to plant largest orchard in City of Pittsburgh on May 4, 2019.
• Threadbare Cider HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cider house and meadery in Pittsburgh's Spring Garden neighborhood. 52 cider trees planted in partnership for annual 500 gallon batch of Hilltop Urban Farm cider.
• The Giving GroveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical support and additional tree plantings for orchards.
• Tree PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical support and additional tree plantings for orchards.
• American Chestnut Planting FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences to add 20 restoration chestnut trees to Youth Farm Orchard in September 2018.
• Penn State University College of Agricultural SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with American Chestnut Planting Foundation to add 20 restoration chestnut trees to Youth Farm Orchard.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIP graduates are prequalified to rent preserved farmland through the Farm-A-Lot program. Access to vacant urban land for new farm businesses.
• Power UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram provider for summer camps teaching nutrition through cooking lessons to Sprouts Camp.
• Student Conservation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school crew joined team for six weeks in 2019, working on infrastructure and site maintenance projects.
• Bee Boy HoneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmer incubator participant Randall Hall provides beekeeping education during summer camps. Sells honey at local Pittsburgh businesses.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Windy City Harvest: Chicago Botanic Garden's urban agriculture program with a farmer training certificate and rooftop farm operations. Comparable as a nonprofit urban farm that combines production with multi-stage farmer incubation, similar to HUF's Farmer Incubation Program.
• Keep Growing Detroit: Detroit urban agriculture organization supporting community gardens, urban farms, and farm business development. Comparable in nonprofit urban agriculture mission, focus on building local food systems in post-industrial cities, and emphasis on training emerging farmers.
• Grow Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based urban agriculture nonprofit with overlapping programs in community gardens, farm education, and farmer development. Most directly comparable peer due to shared geography, similar nonprofit structure, and aligned food access mission in the same metro area.
• Jones Valley Teaching Farm: Birmingham, Alabama-based urban farm that combines food production with youth education in a food desert context. Directly comparable in mission, structure (nonprofit urban farm with educational programming), and target population (underserved youth in an urban core).
• Detroit Black Community Food Security Network: Detroit urban farm cooperative operating D-Town Farm with food sovereignty mission in underserved communities. Comparable in combining urban food production, food justice advocacy, and community education on formerly vacant urban land in a post-industrial American city.
• Ohio City Farm: Cleveland-based nonprofit urban farm operating approximately 6 acres with CSA, wholesale, and youth programming. Comparable in scale relative to HUF's farmable acreage, multi-stakeholder nonprofit model, and integration with a Rust Belt urban food access mission.
• New Roots for Refugees: Kansas City program run by Catholic Charities that trains refugee farmers on urban land with a multi-year farm business development model. Closely comparable to HUF's Farmer Incubation Program in both structure (multi-year cohort training) and target population.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based food access nonprofit with broader programmatic reach across farmers markets, healthy corner stores, school nutrition, and food justice. Overlaps on food desert remediation but operates at much larger scale and geographic footprint than HUF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HilltopUrbanFarmPGH

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Hilltop Urban Farm