Fiveacrefarms

Five Acre Farms distributes local food to grocery stores, restaurants, and food shops. The company partners with farmers using sustainable practices, pays them fair, above-market rates, and shares their stories with consumers. Founded in 2010 by Dan Horan, the company's mission is to make local food more widely available and support farmers. Horan, who previously founded Waldingfield Farm, an organic vegetable farm, and served as CEO of Papaya King, conceived the idea for Five Acre Farms over two decades ago. The business model focuses on partnering with existing farms rather than owning them.

The company sources and produces everything within a 275-mile radius of its Brooklyn, New York headquarters, a distance that aligns with the federal definition of 'local food'. Its product line is primarily focused on dairy, including milk, half & half, heavy cream, buttermilk, yogurt, and kefir, but also includes cage-free eggs, apple juice, applesauce, and seasonal apple cider. These products are available in over 350 retail outlets, restaurants, and hotels across the New York metropolitan area, including major chains like ShopRite, Fairway, and Zabar's.

Five Acre Farms emphasizes transparency, allowing consumers to know where their food originates and ensuring partner farmers adhere to sustainable practices. The company vets all partner farms to guarantee these standards. While not certified organic, the focus is on superior quality, freshness, and taste at an accessible price point to broaden the reach of local food. Since 2014, the company has paid over $1 million above market price back to its network of partner farms. The company has received equity financing and convertible debt to help launch new products and expand its operations. Keywords: local food distribution, sustainable agriculture, dairy products, farm-to-grocer, Northeast US food supply, fair trade farming, food sourcing, supply chain logistics, regional food systems, farm partnerships