The season for fresh, juicy, vine-ripened produce is here — but don’t let the farmers market fool you. All across the country, Black farmers are growing that good-good, direct to consumer. We’re talking collards, watermelon, okra, sweet potatoes — all of it. You just have to know where to look.
Only 1.4% of U.S. farmers are Black, but they’re still holding it down with land, legacy, and flavor. Most just don’t have flashy IGs or TikToks. Which means it’s up to us to show up.
The Numbers Don’t Lie — But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Here’s what’s wild: Only 1.4% of farmers in this country are Black, operating just 1.7% of all farms across 5.3 million acres, yet they generate less than 0.5% of U.S. agricultural sales. But don’t let those numbers fool you into thinking they’re not out here doing the work. Black farmers are stewarding the land, preserving heirloom varieties, and feeding communities — often the same communities that have been systematically cut off from fresh food access.
From regenerative farming in California to food justice work in North Carolina, these farms aren’t just growing produce. They’re growing solutions.
Where the Magic Happens: Coast to Coast
West Coast Vibes In Southern California, Dr. Bill Releford runs Bloom Ranch (@bloomranch), a regenerative farm focused on food as medicine. Through seasonal produce boxes, he’s bringing fresh fruits and vegetables directly to communities that need it most.
Southern Roots, Deep Impact Down in North Carolina, Jason Brown left his NFL career to establish First Fruits Farm (@firstfruitsfarmnc), a 1,000-acre nonprofit operation that has donated over 31 million pounds of produce to food banks, shelters, and schools. Their mission? Grow More, Give More, Serve More.
Houston’s Food Desert Fighter In Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood — a designated food desert — Ivy Lorraine Walls started Ivy Leaf Farms (@ivyleaffarms) in 2019 with just a small investment. Now she’s running mobile markets, pop-up stores, and the Black Farmer Box program, bringing okra, broccoli, carrots, and collards straight to residents’ doorsteps.
East Coast Excellence Christa Barfield’s FarmerJawn (@farmerjawn_) in West Chester, Pennsylvania, isn’t just any farm — it’s the largest Black woman-owned regenerative organic produce farm in the U.S., operating on 120-128 acres. As a James Beard Award Emerging Leader, Barfield offers CSA subscriptions, educational programs, and wellness outreach with the mission that “Agriculture is the culture.”
Family Legacy Farms Keeping Traditions Alive
Some of these operations have roots that run generations deep. Browntown Farms (@browntownfarms) in Virginia has been Black-owned since 1908 — that’s five generations of the Brown family working the same land. Herbert Brown Sr. and his son Herbert Jr. transformed their century farm from tobacco to premium fruits, vegetables, and small-batch artisan jams.
Up in New York, James Minton Sr. moved his family from Harlem to start Triple J Farm (@TripleJFarm_ny) with the powerful slogan “Make Farmers Black Again.” Their cage-free eggs come with affirmations like #BuyLand and #MakeFarmersBlackAgain — selling over 200 dozen weekly during the pandemic.
Innovation Meets Tradition
These aren’t your grandfather’s farms (though some literally are). In North Tulsa, Rodney and Sheila Clark pivoted from running a bed-and-breakfast to full-scale agriculture during COVID-19, creating Clark-Asberry Homestead Ranch — North Tulsa’s only Black-owned farm. They’re growing vegetables in greenhouses, raising livestock, and even maintaining aquaponics systems.
Out in Maine, New Roots Cooperative Farm (@newrootscoop) represents something entirely new — the state’s first immigrant- and refugee-led producer cooperative, run by four Somali Bantu farmer-owners growing chemical-free vegetables for their community.
Beyond Produce: The Full Experience
These farms offer more than just vegetables. Ferguson Farms (@fergusonfarmbirds) in Florida specializes in ethical, grass-fed meats and pastured poultry. In New Mexico’s Manzano Mountains, Moonpence Farm (@moonpencefarm) grows medicinal herbs and flowers, providing free herbal medicines through their community-supported “Serenus Herb Bank.”
How to Connect and Support
The beauty of supporting Black farms goes beyond just buying produce — you’re investing in food justice, land sovereignty, and community wealth building. Many of these farms offer:
- CSA boxes and subscriptions for regular deliveries
- Farm stands and farmers markets for that personal connection
- Educational programs and farm tours to learn regenerative practices
- Online ordering and shipping for nationwide access
- Community partnerships with schools, food banks, and local organizations
Find Black Farms Near You
There are Black farmers closer to home than you might think, growing exceptional produce and building food security in communities nationwide. Visit blackfoodiefinder.com to discover farms in your area — many offer direct sales, shipping, or farm-fresh pickups straight from the soil to your table.
When you buy from Black farmers, you’re not just getting the freshest produce. You’re supporting generational wealth, fighting food inequality, and preserving agricultural traditions one harvest at a time.
The season is here. The farmers are ready. Are you?