Partnerships

Co-ops exist thanks to the cooperation of communities. Our greatest partnerships are those with our producers and our members.

We are grateful for the support and partnership of community organizations to co-create a vibrant local food system for Central Florida.

Homegrown Coop was approached by leadership at Florida Hospital during August 2009. Our organizations share a mutual understanding of the current economic and political landscape that challenges our access to nutritious heirloom crops and fresh locally grown foods. In support of our mission, an incubator arrangement was granted by Florida Hospital for use of their property at 2310 N. Orange Avenue.

During this time of economic uncertainty, an eighteen month incubation period is a boost which enables Homegrown Coop to feasibly continue and expand operations. Over the course of the 18 month incubation period, Florida Hospital organization will support Homegrown Coop with approximately $50,040 in subsidized rent. They have also agreed to support the cost of remodeling necessary to bring the facility up to legal code and function for our purpose, and have pledged a $25,000 matching cash grant.

In addition to the granting use of their facility, we are working with Florida Hospital to develop a benefit program it can offer its nearly 16,000 employees. As a part of their Healthy100 Work Place Initiative, this employee benefit program through Homegrown will ensure hospital employees have convenient workplace access to nutritious fresh foods to support of their longterm health and wellness.

In December 2009 Homegrown was granted a vehicle from 1800CharityCars. The vehicle donation from 1800Charity Cars will enable us to further our mission by extending the Coop's reach to new organic farms and delivery to communities in need of fresh nutritious foods. Charity Cars CEO Brian Menzies also directs the nonprofit Charity Farms organization. Charity Farms educates and employs disadvantaged people to grow organic food, which is then distributed to the region's homeless community through local food banks. Their first project farm is located in Kissimmee, and a second educational farm is being developed in Apopka. Exciting potential exists here for collaborative partnership with the Charity Farms organization for additional sources of organic food and educational opportunities for our members.

Our Vital Earth is a vermiculture farm in Apopka, Florida. Our Vital Earth has sponsored Homegrown Co-op for three years by partnering to provide the Co-op with a commercial worm composter. This digester breaks down organic waste and turns it into rich organic fertilizer.

Florida School of Holistic Living is an Orlando-based 501c3 that provides fiscal sponsorship for Homegrown Co-op and sponsored the Co-op for it's first two years in operation as a project of the school.

In addition, we are grateful to work with the following organizations in the community strengthen our local food shed.

Contact

To partner with us, please call 407.595.3731 or email us.