FAFarmshare Austin
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About Farmshare Austin
Farmshare Austin serves people who are navigating food access barriers, and it does it with real produce, not vague promises. Through Fresh for Less markets, home delivery, and curbside options, it brings reduced-price Texas-grown food and grocery items to Austin, Travis County, and Central Texas. At the same time, it trains beginning farmers on a certified organic farm, so local food access and local farm training feed each other in a practical way.
What stands out here is how directly the work connects the field to the table. Produce grown on the farm supports Fresh for Less markets and delivery, while Farmer Starter, Cultivator, and the Central Texas Farm Incubator Collaborative help new farmers build skills, test ideas, and get access to what they need next.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Fresh for Less Mobile Markets
Mini pop-up farmers markets that sell Texas-grown produce, eggs, honey, and grocery goods at reduced prices.
Fresh for Less Home Delivery
A weekly home delivery service for reduced-price fresh produce and grocery items, available in multiple Austin and Travis County zip codes.
Fresh for Less Curbside Delivery
A Fresh for Less food access option that provides reduced-price produce and grocery items through curbside delivery.
Farmer Starter
A 20-week, immersive beginning farmer training program on a working certified organic farm for adults who want to launch careers in organic and sustainable farming.
Cultivator
A micro-incubator for Farmer Starter graduates that provides land, tools, equipment, mentorship, and a place to test a farm business plan.
Central Texas Farm Incubator Collaborative
A collaborative program that gives beginning farmers access to land, infrastructure, mentorship, business training, and marketing outlets.
Community Classes and Workshops
Classes and workshops for the Central Texas farming community, including produce safety and related farm education topics.
About this work
Mission
Farmshare Austin's mission is to grow a healthy, just and equitable local food system by increasing community food access and cultivating new farmers.
Who they serve
Community members experiencing food access barriers, including low-income customers in Austin and Travis County, and adults beginning careers in organic and sustainable farming.
Their impact
- Serves approximately 9,000 customers each year.
- Since 2014, has graduated 128 adults from Farmer Starter.
- Nearly 80% of Farmer Starter graduates are working in agriculture or an agriculture-related field.
- Raised $50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign in its first year of operations.
How your donation helps
- $25 provides Farmshare vegetables for Fresh for Less.
- $50 provides seeds for one Farmer Starter student to plan and plant crops.
- $100 provides reusable cardboard boxes for Home Delivery.
- $250 supports irrigation equipment for newly acquired acres.
- $500 supplies a week of healthy, organic foods for Home Delivery customers.
- $1,000 covers fuel for Home Delivery vehicles for one month.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Farmshare Austin’s services.
People seeking Fresh for Less access register as customers, then place orders online through the Fresh for Less store. Home delivery is available on Wednesdays and Fridays, and pick-up is available on Thursdays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Mobile Markets sell reduced-price produce and grocery items at community locations, and the programs accept cash, credit card, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
"I am so grateful for the Fresh for Less curbside delivery program. I don't have a vehicle, and although I can use public transportation, the closest Mobile Market to me is 2 buses and a 2-3 hour round trip away... Fresh for Less nurtures me physically with great, fresh food, and mentally through the wonderful human interaction with everyone who delivers. Thank you." - LYNDA
"Farmshare Austin's work is critical to ensuring we achieve Imagine Austin's goal to increase access to fresh health locally-produced foods for everyone." - Edwin Marty, City of Austin Food Policy Manager
Grant support
$64,961 from 2 funders · through 2023 (IRS 990 records).
- GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $10,000 (2023)HUMAN SERVICES
- SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION — $54,961 (2022)GENERAL SUPPORT
Events
Farmraiser
annualAn annual gala fundraise for Farmshare Austin.
Tomato We-Pick!
annualA tomato season celebration with pre-ordered organic vine-ripened tomatoes and farm tours.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Farmshare Austin has shared.
Current needs
- Irrigation equipment for newly acquired acres
- Reusable cardboard boxes for Home Delivery
- Fuel for Home Delivery vehicles
- Seeds for Farmer Starter students
Volunteer opportunities
- Harvesting produce with the farm team
- Washing produce
- Planting and weeding
- Packing Home Delivery orders
- Corporate and team-building volunteer days
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Austin Food & Wine Alliance grant, 2017
- Nutiva Foundation grant, 2015
- USDA-NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program award 2021-70033-35635
In the media
- KVUE ABC News, coverage of a volunteer finding community in farm fields while fighting food insecurity
- Austin American-Statesman, coverage of Farmshare Austin's food delivery program with Ascension Seton
- CBS Austin, coverage of H-E-B partnering with Farmshare Austin to bring healthy food to Del Valle
- KXAN, coverage of the city's mobile market operation expanding through a partnership with Farmshare Austin
- AgriLife Today, coverage of an organic agriculture transition partnership to recruit, train, and mentor farmers
- Whole Cities Foundation, profile of Farmshare Austin's work growing a resilient local food economy
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How do I use Fresh for Less home delivery?
Register as a Fresh for Less customer, place your order online, and choose delivery on Wednesdays or Fridays. You can also pick up on Thursdays from 10 AM to 2 PM.
What can I buy at Fresh for Less Mobile Markets?
You can buy Texas-grown produce, eggs, honey, and grocery goods at reduced prices.
What payment methods are accepted for Fresh for Less?
Fresh for Less accepts cash, credit card, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks.
Who can apply for Farmer Starter?
Farmer Starter is for adults who want to begin careers in organic and sustainable farming.
What does Cultivator provide to graduates?
Cultivator gives graduates land, tools, equipment, mentorship, and a place to test a farm business plan for up to one year.
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