Nourishing Our Food Future
FRESHFARM is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that builds a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the Mid-Atlantic region by producing innovative solutions in partnership with local communities and organizations. We create food access, economic development, and thriving communities through hands-on education, farmers markets, and food distribution programs.
History
Our founders Bernadine Prince and Ann Harvey Yonkers launched FRESHFARM as a public education program of the American Farmland Trust in 1996. The following year, on July 6, 1997, they opened the Dupont Circle farmers market in Washington, DC, with 15 farmers from four states selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants.
In 2019, Hugo Mogollon joined FRESHFARM as executive director. Under his leadership, FRESHFARM merged with Community Foodworks—a peer organization he had led for five years—to become the largest farmers market organization in the Mid-Atlantic region. This merger strengthened FRESHFARM’s position as a regional food system organization and significantly expanded our reach and impact.
In 2025, Cat Oakar succeeded Hugo Mogollon as executive director following his transformative tenure. Cat brings a twenty-year career in food and health policy spanning national, state, and local levels. She is uniquely positioned to advance FRESHFARM’s mission of building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the Mid-Atlantic region. Cat joins at a pivotal moment: as demand for our programs grows and the broader policy landscape shifts, her expertise and vision are instrumental in strengthening economic opportunity for farmers, closing food access gaps for underserved communities, and building lifelong skills for children.
What We Do
Our current food system leaves too many people behind. It prioritizes profit over health and the environment, affecting farmers’ livelihoods, undermining children’s nutrition, and compromising communities’ ability to thrive.
At FRESHFARM, we nourish our food future. We create systemic change by addressing crucial issues at every level of the food system through transformative programs. In kitchens and in schools, at farms and farmers markets, and across the community, our innovative programs impact the entire regional food system.
Farmers Markets and Farm Stands
Our extensive network of farmers markets and farm stands spans Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, making us the third-largest farmers market organization in the country. Our farmers markets create economic opportunities for farmers and local businesses, fuel local economies, serve as placemakers and community gathering spots, and provide vital food access points for all. Find a market or farm stand
Food Access
FRESHFARM administers two of the country’s most extensive food access programs. FreshMatch and Produce Plus make fresh and nutritious food affordable for underserved individuals while generating over a million dollars in additional revenue for local farmers annually. Explore Food Access
Food Distribution
The Food Hub program leverages our farmers markets to unlock wholesale opportunities for small farmers and connect them with underserved individuals and community organizations traditionally excluded from the local food system. Explore the Food Hub
Food Education
FoodPrints, our engaging food and garden education program, teaches students to grow, prepare, and enjoy fresh, locally grown foods while promoting wholesome diets and environmental awareness. FoodPrints hands-on lessons bring science, math, and social studies to life, benefiting students, families, and educators locally and nationwide. Explore FoodPrints