NMSDC announces first cohort of Black Farmers Equity Initiative

The New York-based National Minority Supplier Development Council has announced the first cohort of the Black Farmers Equity Initiative. 

The joint venture from NMSDC and Cargill is aimed at advancing agricultural supply chain access for Black farmers, according to a news release.

The initiative seeks to create a pathway for emerging Black farmers to achieve parity in the agriculture industry with learning solutions, certification, lending, networking and new contracts, the release said. The 11 members of the first cohort are:

• Richard Francis aka Farmer Chippy — Francis owns Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm. Its main commodities are pepper and herbs, and it is located on 5 acres in Maryland.
• Antron Williams — Williams owns Mahogany Farms LLC. Its main commodities are corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat, and it is located on 550 acres in South Carolina.
• Sidney and Shane Lovelace — The father and son own Lovelace Farms. Its main commodities are cows and hay, and it is located on 150 acres in Kentucky.
• D. Spencer Riley — Riley owns Orgaceutical. Its main commodities are leafy vegetables and microgreens, and it is located on 5 acres in Pennsylvania.
• Michael Rollen — Rollen owns Ophelia's Blue Vine Farm. Its main commodities are herbs and spices, and it is located on 1 acre in Missouri.
• Kimberly Ratcliff — Ratcliff owns Caney Creek Ranch and Farm to Freezer Meat Company. Its main commodities are Charbray cattle and feed resources, and it is located on 2,500 acres in Texas.
• Cherie Jzar — Jzar owns Deep Roots. Its main commodities are vegetables, flowers, fruits, berries, herbs, apiaries and animals, and it is located on 7 acres in North Carolina.
• Harold Singletary — Singletary owns BrightMa Farms. Its main commodity is hemp, and it is located on 96 acres in South Carolina.
• Immanuel Jarvis — Jarvis owns Jireh Family Farm. Its main commodities are permaculture pigs, rabbits, goats and meat chickens, and it is located on 4 acres in North Carolina.
• Dr. Michael Lloyd — Lloyd owns Num Num Sauce Farms. Its main commodity is tomatoes, and it is located on 2 acres in Georgia.
• James E. Davis Jr. — Davis owns Bales and Bushels. Its main commodity is cotton, and it is located on 12 acres in Louisiana.

“Increasing the numbers of Black farmers in the U.S. agricultural industry is an essential part of achieving NMSDC’s mission of eliminating the racial wealth gap within the next 50 years,” Jetheda Hernandez, senior director of strategic alliances and programming at NMSDC, said in the release. “We are excited to work with these incredible farmers as they grow their businesses, build generational wealth, and provide much needed resilience to our nation’s agricultural supply chain.”

Members from the first cohort of the Black Farmers Equity Initiative will complete an eight-week learning curriculum focused on growing their capacity to take on major national contracts with NMSDC’s corporate members, the release said.

Members also will receive strategic business support, including complimentary NMSDC certification.