The Neighbors Farm is a community-focused regenerative vegetable farm in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania working in partnership with a local educational nonprofit to make healthy produce more accessible. On less than three acres of open space, the farm produces the only fresh, naturally grown veggies in the area. Through educational programming around sustainable food production, owner Matthew Hanson is also helping create career pathways for neighborhood kids—a critical need in a community with a 28% poverty level. Hanson uses a pay-what-you-can system and delivers vegetables throughout the city, making sure income is not a barrier to healthy living. In addition to deliveries, Matthew sells his produce online and wholesale. "Food brings people together, and food production crosses over with movements of environment, workforce, health, education, and local resilience.” he says.

Foodshed Capital supported The Neighbors Farm with a low-interest bridge loan to front the capital ahead of reimbursement from their collaborative Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant from the PA Department of Agriculture. The grant funding will allow them to build two 50-ft caterpillar tunnels and purchase supplies.