Go behind-the-scenes to see how FRESHFARM connects communities to fresh food and local farmers.
đź“… Thursday, October 30, 9:00 AM
đź“Ť Meeting Spot: FRESHFARM Minnesota Ave. Farm Stand
322 40th St NE Washington, DC 20019
Capacity is limited – reserve your spot today!
Exclusive tour for funders and donors.
This exclusive tour includes:
- A chartered bus ride to and from Hidden Gems Farm (Centreville, VA) to meet with husband and wife farmers, Lorenzo and Summiya
- A close-up of our FreshMatch and farm stand programs at the FRESHFARM Minnesota Ave. Farm Stand
- Boxed lunch highlighting fresh, local ingredients
- An intimate space to connect with fellow funders and supporters
- A special opportunity to meet FRESHFARM’s new Executive Director, Cat Oakar
Witness firsthand how FRESHFARM leverages our partnerships between farmers, markets, and communities to strengthen our regional food system.
Reserve your spot by October 23rd – don’t miss out!
Agenda
9:00 AM: Meet at FRESHFARM Minnesota Ave. Farm Stand, 322 40th St NE, Washington, DC 20019. Note: the farm stand will not be set up at arrival time; parking is available at the East River Park Shopping Center.
9:15 AM: Chartered bus departs for Hidden Gems Farm in Centreville, VA
10:15 AM: Tour of Hidden Gems Farm with owners Summiya and Lorenzo Gibbs
11:15 AM: Â Learn from FRESHFARM staff about our farm stands and food distribution programs
11:40 AM: Enjoy lunch prepared by our FoodPrints Senior Culinary Coach
12:00 PM: Return by bus to FRESHFARM Minnesota Ave. Farm Stand at the East River Park Shopping Center
12:50 PM: Arrive at the farm stand and learn from FRESHFARM staff about our food access programs
1:30 PM: Event concludes. Stay and shop!
Questions?
About
Hidden Gems Farm
Hidden Gems Farm is a small family farm in Fairfax County raising dairy and meat goats, pasture-raised chickens, and heritage breed turkeys. Lorenzo and Summiya Gibbs purchased their property in 2015 with zero farming experience, inspired by a personal experience—their daughter’s skin condition improved dramatically after using goat milk products. Through trial and error, they mastered goat farming and expanded to egg-laying chickens. In 2020, they added berry patches that they continue nurturing today.
Hidden Gems Farm joined the FRESHFARM network in 2022, starting at the Foggy Bottom Market. You can now find them at the FRESHFARM Mosaic and Reston Markets, too.
Minnesota Avenue Farm Stand
The FRESHFARM Minnesota Avenue Farm Stand brings fresh produce to shoppers East of the River every Thursday afternoon. Farm stands represent an innovative approach to reaching food-insecure communities with a different model than traditional farmers markets.
While farmers markets host multiple vendors, farm stands feature a single primary farmer who can supplement their offerings through FRESHFARM’s Pop-Up Food Hub network. Pleitez Produce Farm anchors our Minnesota Ave. location, sourcing additional items as needed. This flexible model ensures consistent fresh produce availability while supporting both the anchor farmer and the broader FRESHFARM network.