While black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) producers have significant agricultural production experience, they often encounter barriers to establishing financially viable farm businesses

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a $588,625 Project Grant under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to Friends of Zenger Farm. The grant will support the expansion of direct-to-consumer market activity by training over 60 beginning Black, Indigenous and farmers of color over three years. Zenger Farm will provide a beginning farmer program and the Come Thru Market will give emerging vendors, including Zenger Farm beginning farmers, an opportunity to test their business models in a low-risk market environment through subsidized access to market supplies, equipment and fees. This aims to increase the direct-to-consumer market development pipeline for BIPOC farmers and an estimated additional 5,000 project beneficiaries, and put farmers on a trajectory to scale their businesses into larger markets like farm-to-school programs. The grant period is from September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.

This project's goal is to expand direct-to-consumer market activity by training the next generation of direct market farmers based in the portland metropolitan area. Zenger farm will provide a beginning farmer program to train emerging farmers while the come thru market will give emerging business vendors (including zenger farm beginning farmers) an opportunity to test their business model in a low-risk market environment by lending vendor supplies and market equipment as well as subsidizing market access fees. This supports BIPOC producers in becoming market-ready and in achieving short-term successes that put them on a trajectory to eventually scale their businesses into larger markets, including farm to school and other institutional outlets, while improving business sustainability and increasing revenue to support new job creation. Working together we will align curriculum to create a comprehensive culturally responsive learning environment and market to increase the direct-to-consumer market development pipeline for over 60 beginning BIPOC farmers over three years, as well as an additional 5,000 estimated project beneficiaries including beginning farmers, BIPOC producers, BIPOC foodmakers and vendors, market customers, and related food systems organizations and businesses. Providing culturally responsive farmers markets strengthens BIPOC communities, improves health outcomes, and increases cultural sustainability.