After 13+ years of bootstrapping, I'm excited to announce
Farm To People's first outside investment, $5 million led by
Elly Truesdell and
Hallie Bonnar of
New Fare Partners alongside a list of founders and operators I've admired for a long time, listed below. Read more in yesterday's
The New York Times, linked in the comments.
Farm to People was never meant to be a different grocery delivery company. It's infrastructure for a food system where a small farm can actually make a living. The Times put it as our ambition, and they're right: a new economy for small farms to succeed. That's what happens when the quality of the farmers market meets the ease of modern e-commerce.
From my parents' studio apartment on the Upper West Side to a new 40,000 square foot warehouse coming soon in The Bronx, it's been a helluva ride. Thank you
David Robinov for being a pioneer in the natural foods movement since before I was born and for making this all possible. And
Anina von Haeften for your partnership and vision every day!
To every customer, farmer, maker, driver, packer, buyer, and team member who got us here: thank you.
And we're just getting started. If you want to build this with us, we're hiring. It's hard work. If you're ready to make an impact, reach out.
Here's the incredible list of investors who share our vision of the future and inspire us:
Gary Hirshberg (and
Ethan,
Alex, Danielle) founder of
Stonyfield;
Walter Robb former co-CEO of Whole Foods;
David Barber of
Blue Hill At Stone Barns;
Fred Wilson (and
Joanne & Josh) founder of
Union Square Ventures;
Martin Dolfi,
Bill Schultz and
Whitney Williams from
Beliade Consumer Partners;
Jean-Francois Jeff Déchant (and
Felix Dechant, our COO, who makes FtP run every day);
Jeff Sterrett &
Jamie Sterrett;
Stephen Williamson,
John Charles Hanley &
Daisy Bowes Williamson;
Todd Lachman;
Tom Gellert &
Andrew Gellert;
Sam Slover;
Jeff Samberg;
Gabi Lewis; and more.
Thank you
Jacqueline S. for sharing our story with the world.