Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative
“If you want to go fast, walk alone, if you want to go far, come let’s walk together.” - African Proverb
Rooted in resilience
The WEBATUCK VALLEY FARM COLLABORATIVE (WVFC) is a regional food sovereignty and farm cooperative development initiative led by Rock Steady Farm, Sweet Freedom Farm, and Wildseed Community Farm and Healing Village. We are building a first-of-its-kind food hub to address absent and outdated middle-of-supply chain infrastructure and to secure viable, scalable farm businesses for QTBIPOC farmers.
Leveraging decades of production, distribution, and education experience, as well as 10+ years of direct partnership on the land, the WVFC Food Hub will provide low-to-no cost land access, training and apprenticeships, shared infrastructure and overhead, product processing & aggregation, advocacy, community events, and employment to underserved farmers in Dutchess & Columbia County, and beyond.
The food hub will double infrastructure capacity for at least 15 local farms, open access to 8+ markets, and support development of 25+ value added products. Shared infrastructure will ultimately increase QTBIPOC produce grown, stored, and distributed by 300%. Additionally, our food hub will supply and impact 9 school districts, 13 food pantries, and partner with 6 institutional buyers, and 8 aggregators and distributors.
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Our goal
Our goal is to raise a total of $15 million! This funding will guarantee 3 years of startup for 3 organizations over 3 sites. We are thrilled to share that we have secured $5.7 million to date but we need your support to reach our next benchmark of $10 million by December 31, 2026.
The WVFC Capital Campaign will fund the development of a regional food hub centered in the Webatuck Valley in Millerton, NY — including aggregation, large cold storage, wash/pack, produce and grain processing equipment, a shared commercial kitchen, distribution infrastructure, a shared large event space, increased space for our training programs and more! We are connecting underserved farmers to schools, institutions, emergency food access, and community markets across New York State and the Northeast.
Interested in joining our capital campaign committee?
join us
Join us for our next Funder Brief on October 6th!
This is your opportunity to be a part of an important conversation about reparative capital, community giving, and the future of regional food systems.
Learn how the Webatuck Food Hub is creating opportunities to support Black and Brown land stewards, strengthen local agricultural infrastructure, and build lasting, community-centered impact through relationship-based philanthropy.
All welcome to join via zoom @12pm
Our partners
🌱 Strategic Partnership
Banking That Invests in a More Resilient Food System
Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative is proud to partner with Walden Mutual Bank, a mission-driven financial institution dedicated to strengthening local food systems. Rather than investing deposits in traditional industries, Walden Mutual directs capital toward farms, food businesses, nonprofits, and other sustainability-focused organizations that are building a more resilient future. When you purchase a Webatuck CD you earn 3% interest AND support a line of credit for us. This provides critical cash flow for our infrastructure build as we continue to fundraise to meet our capital campaign goal.
OUR AWARDS AND FUNDERS
The work of the Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative is made possible through the generous support of public agencies, foundations, and mission-aligned partners committed to building a stronger, more resilient regional food system.
Government & Public Funding
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USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
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Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program Awardee
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NASDA Foundation
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USDA Food Business Centers – Northeast Business Builder Awardee
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COMMUNITY OF FUNDERS
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Foundation for Community Health
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Commonground Fund
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Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
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Philanthropic Ventures – Village Farmer Fund
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TwoTrees Fund
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Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming
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National Family Farm Coalition
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Co-op Innovation '23 Award
Retreat Partner
The Watershed Center
A Place to Gather, Learn, and Renew
The Watershed Center is a retreat and education center situated on a73-acre parcel along with Rock Steady Farm. Watershed made the Webatuck Valley its home in 2012 with an invitation to communities, groups and organizations working for social change to reconnect to land and nature. Since 2015, the core partners of the Webatuck ValleyFarm Collaborative have worked in collaboration with The WatershedCenter – hosting retreats, community gatherings, educational workshops, shared meals, and special events – to bring new life, love and community to our beloved valley.
As the Collaborative enters its next chapter, we are proud to recognize The Watershed Center as our dedicated land and retreat partner—a place where connection, learning, and collaboration continue to flourish.
Whether you're attending a Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative event or planning your own retreat, workshop, or gathering, The WatershedCenter offers welcoming accommodations and inspiring spaces for individuals and organizations alike.
To book your retreat learn more HERE