How We Fulfill Our Mission
Recruiting farmers
The FBDC actively recruits new farmers for the incubator program. Typical incubator applicants have 2-3 years farming experience, and do not own land or have the financial capability to lease land for a farm enterprise. These beginning farmers have the practical knowledge, thorough training, apprenticeship and/or a previous farming background, to develop a multi-year business plan with the goal of entering professional farming. The incubator program focuses on increasing the supply of locally grown food and also has the goal of connecting with immigrant and disadvantaged workers who have background in farming and see ownership of a farm enterprise as a potential career.

Creating possibilities with partners
The FBDC is forming partnerships with private landowners, foundations and other funders to provide necessary resources for the FBDC and for the farmers chosen for the incubator program. Our goal is to help farmers secure financing necessary to launch a farm business within the five-year incubator training program. We work with private landowners to connect our farmers with land available for long-term lease. We also raise awareness with consumers, wholesalers and retailers to the availability of locally-grown, organic foods produced by our farmers.