Our Mission & Vision
UAC exists to enhance the localized food system between underserved local food growers and consumers.
Based in Newark, NJ, we are part of the “connective tissue” between farmers, institutions and families
We operate a food hub distributing NJ products through farmer’s markets and wholesale; and consult on several related projects.
In collaboration with the work of many allies, we maintain and inclusive, sustainable, just and caring food economy centering people and our planet.
Evolution of UAC
Urban Agriculture Cooperative began as a program arm of the non-profit Planting Seeds of Hope. PSH created community gardens to help clean up and restore vacant lots and remove blight. UAC was developed to act as a support to urban agriculture practitioners focusing on bulk purchasing and fiscal sponsorship, but grew a specific focus on developing local farmer’s market solutions and food distribution from grower to consumer. From there it organized several community partners to start thinking about food distribution, community composting, and educational enrichment programs having to do with growing your own food. In 2020, we stepped out of the gardens and began the pivot towards building the best distribution systems we could to serve other farmers and many more consumers. Today we are working with key businesses and institutions to reshape how farm foods reach schools, pantries, small businesses and families.
SWAG Project Farm as a Depot for a Large Compost Pile
Our Services
1 - We help urban and small/medium farms improve and coordinate sales through our hub
2 - We curate, pack and deliver ‘farms to families’ share boxes to food pantries, schools, non-profits, and specific clinical populations. We also broker wholesale to a variety of these clients
3- We assist farmer’s markets with technical assistance, staffing and coordination.
4 - We train and employ students and young adults to become part of the local food system.
5 - We consult on a variety of special projects that increase local food economic development
Food Corps Receiving Farms To Families (FTF) Boxes at Hawthorne Elementary, 2023
Goals and Objectives
The UAC will continue to improve food access in urban communities, and support and encourage local growers to tap into those markets. But the ultimate goal is to create a long-lasting and resilient local food system. This system would be one in which as much locally produced food as possible is acquired by as many local consumers as possible, minimizing distance and steps between grower and consumer, and ensuring dollars are circulating directly between ‘farm’ and ‘table.’
In this model, the global food supply chain will certainly still play a role, as it takes many and varied products to feed a dense urban region. Yet we can improve the supply chain and coordination to preference a higher proportion of locally grown, fresh and culturally appropriate foods, produced hyper locally and in our state/region whenever possible. This is an urgent project that yields more social, racial and economic justice as well as more resiliency for our City.
Design Build on an ASP Composting System for West Side High School, 2022
Pop-Up Market Serving Seniors in Branch Brook Park, 2023