Food System 6 has revealed its seventh cohort of companies for its accelerator program that are seeking solutions around food justice, food security, and regional infrastructure.
The incoming group exemplifies the response efforts that emerged from the COVID-19 crisis and features for-profit and nonprofit solutions focused on food equity and security, worker-ownership, regional food infrastructure, open-sourced technology, and closed-loop manufacturing for food and agriculture. As with all FS6 cohorts, members of Cohort 7 were selected for their work across the four FS6 impact pillars of healthy people, vibrant farms, sustainable ecosystems, and justice and fairness.
The cohort includes the following companies:
• Farm to Pantry, which takes fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste and shares it with food-insecure families across Sonoma County.
• The FarmHand Tractor, an open-source tractor solution for today’s small sustainable market farms.
• Ferry County Edible Resource Team, which supports the next generation of sustainable farmers to build a more resilient and prosperous Ferry County, Washington.
• Kitchen 66, which decreases barriers for Tulsa’s food entrepreneurs through business training and operational support.
• Nafici Environmental Research, which transforms agricultural waste into paper pulp for packaging.
• Open Food Network, an open-source, virtual market platform for transparent local food systems.
• Reem’s California, which connects people across cultures and experiences through the warmth of Arab bread and hospitality.
• Regenerative Poultry Systems, which trains and deploys regenerative poultry farmers at scale.
• Umi Feeds, which redistributes surplus food to seniors and the food insecure in Atlanta
“Now is the time for radical collaboration, courageous challenges to the status quo, heart-driven leadership, and radical candor about the times we’re in,” said Caesaré Assad, CEO of Food System 6, in a statement. “We are all living together in the climate crisis and together we are capable of being part of a better future. This cohort, along with many other community-based leaders nationwide, are building that better future.”
The companies will now take part in a 13-week accelerator program focused on fine-tuning the communications and business acumen they need to maximize their impact. The program includes group learning sessions, one-on-one mentor connections with industry leaders and investors, and custom business support.
The program will culminate on June 22 with a public forum event where food system stakeholders, partners, and investors will have the opportunity to learn from each company about the solutions that they are building.
Related: Food System 6 Accelerator Accepts Applications; Grow-NY Accepting Applications.
Image: Food System 6