Small farms across the country are seeking creative ways to grow more sustainably, support their communities and adapt to climate change — often with limited resources.
For over a decade, The Fruit Guys Community Fund has helped bridge that gap by awarding microgrants to independent farmers working on impactful projects. These funds have aided small farmers, 87% of whom are women and people of color.
Sheila Cassani, head of impact for The FruitGuys, says sustainability is an important subject for those receiving grants this year, as 86% focused on soil health and 81% on water conservation with projects ranging from cover crops to drip irrigation. Cassani has seen the focus change over the past 10 years, with a growing emphasis on climate resilience as farms implement strategies like wind breaks and water conservation.
“In this year’s cohort in particular, nearly all of the farms are focusing on the sustainable agriculture side and the ecological impacts of their on-farm projects; the large majority of them are improving soil health and/or conserving water,” Cassani says.
These projects encompass several areas like planting cover crops, getting landscape fabric for weed suppression or buying a leaf shredder for doing mulching on site, Cassani says, or doing a number of projects such as drip irrigation or water catchment systems.
“So, while they range in terms of application, many of the grantees are focusing on these broad and meaningful sustainable agriculture focus areas, which we like to see,” Cassani says.
What started as five grantees in 2013 has grown to 21 farm recipients in this year’s program, 18 of which are women-owned; one of them, Old School Farm, is turning its vision for solar-powered fencing into reality.
Old School Farm in Nashville, Tenn., is a 2-acre agricultural nonprofit farm that employs adults with developmental disabilities; grows diverse seasonal produce, including vegetables, herbs, berries and flowers; and donates much of it to local food assistance programs, according to The FruitGuys Community Fund website. With a $5,000 grant, Old School Farm will install solar-powered fencing to protect a half-acre plot that’s been vulnerable to animal damage, as well as improve its pack shed for more efficient processing and to prevent spoilage during peak summer harvests.
The program has grown each year and expanded from $85,000 in 2024 to $90,000 in 2025.
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