Part of the Food Policy Community Spotlight Series

Name: Smallhold

What they do: Smallhold is the first, and only, organic farm in NYC, and is also the only mushroom farm. Their farm isn’t in one place; rather, their custom Minifarms are distributed throughout partner restaurants, grocery stores, and markets, bringing the produce right to the site of distribution.

How they do it: Smallhold works with businesses to design Minifarms according to their needs, constructs the farm in their Brooklyn facility, and installs the farm at the business’s location upon completion. The Minifarm, a climate-controlled growing chamber, is monitored remotely and key parameters are adjusted by Smallhold specialists as needed. Living produce is delivered to the farm weekly, meaning the next harvest is never more than a week away.

Mission: Smallhold is redefining standards of freshness and locality by bringing the farm on site. By distributing the farm, Smallhold provides its customers with hyper-local produce on day-one of shelf life.

Latest project/campaign: Smallhold recently installed a new Minifarm at the Whole Foods Market on 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn and produces 40 to 80 pounds per week.

Profit/nonprofit: For-profit

Interesting fact about how they are working to positively affect the food system: Mushrooms, Smallhold’s flagship produce, grow on waste streams like sawdust and coffee grounds. They’re regarded as a healthy, plant-based alternative to meat and are becoming an increasingly important part of the global diet.

FACT SHEET:

Location: 33 Carlton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Core Programs: Individually-designed and manufactured Minifarms, each producing anywhere from 20 to 300 pounds of organic mushrooms a week. A full list can be found here.

Number of staff: 7 full time, 9 part-time/contractors

Number of volunteers: 0

Areas served: New York Metro Area, soon to expand across the United States

Year Started: 2017

Directors: Adam DeMartino and Andrew Carter

Contact Information: (347) 514-3402, or via this page.