Virginia Foodshed Capital

Loan fund: the organization's loan fund is designed to make Capital more available and accessible for family farmers and food entrepreneurs. The organization works with borrowers who are disenfranchised from the traditional financial system including low-income/low-asset individuals and families, black and brown families, women and non-binary people, immigrants and indigenous communities, as well as others who have been oppressed by an extractive economy and systemic discrimination. The focus of the organization is on farms and food businesses dedicated to using resilient, regenerative, eco-friendly practices that foster soil health and biodiversity and produce healthy, culturally appropriate food for our local communities.

Training and technical assistance: the organization's consultation services are offered to all small/mid-scale farms and food enterprises in the region, even if they are not borrowing funds. The organization does this one-on-one and through group presentations, seminars, and workshops. For the workshops, the organization often partners with experts who have a particular expertise. Since farmers like to learn from other farmers, the organization strives to find experts who are either farmers themselves or understand the business of farming. For those that are borrowing funds, the organization stays in continual contact with the borrower, assisting them in any way possible to ensure the success of their business and the repayment of the loan.