Across the nation, fresh food organizations are taking a unique approach to solving food insecurity in their communities. In the U.S., almost 40 million* people live in areas with low access to food. While there is no one single way to solve hunger, by investing in local community partners and programs and leveraging our expertise in the retail tech space, Shipt can help these organizations learn and grow to expand their reach.
This year, 11 organizations joined Shipt’s LadderUp™ Accelerator Accelerator – a passionate group of CSAs (community supported agriculture), farmers markets, and local grocers, united by a mission to feed their communities. Each received a $5,000 grant in addition to valuable marketplace education and mentorship.
We had the opportunity to dive deeper into the fascinating people behind these organizations–to hear their stories and witness their passion for the work. What we saw wasn’t just a desire to grow their business, but a deep-rooted commitment to nourishing their neighbors and reshaping communities through access to fresh, local food.
As we wrapped up the third year of our LadderUp™ program, we reached out to three participants to learn more about their experience:
What inspired you to start your organization, and how is it working to address food insecurity?
Good Grocer | Minneapolis, MN | Grocery Store: Good Grocer’s core mission is to transform the food system to make good, fresh food accessible and affordable for everyone in our community. We are located in the heart of one of Minneapolis’ largest food deserts and provide a broad selection of fresh, healthy foods and produce.
Star Farm Chicago | Chicago, IL | CSA: Star Farm was inspired by the hardworking, resilient South Side community, both longtime residents and newly arrived neighbors. Everyone deserves a safe green space to grow, learn, and heal. That first step built the trust needed to launch our Mobile Farmers Market, education, nutrition, and food access programs to fight food insecurity.
FreshGreens Market | Montgomery, AL | Grocery Store: FreshGreens sprang from our childhood memories of our great-grandfather's corner store. Today, we plant that same spirit across our city—partnering with local farmers, hosting CSA shares, and cultivating urban gardens where neighbors from ages 8 to 38 learn to sow, harvest, and heal with time-honored herbs. It’s our hope to ensure everyone has access to fresh food.
What advice would you give to other small business owners looking to scale or seeking support like LadderUp?
Good Grocer: Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity. The learning is laser-focused on the needs of start-ups and small businesses. More importantly, the knowledge, experiences, and perspectives of the cohort members provide ideas we can directly apply at Good Grocer.
Star Farm Chicago: We would say go for it! It’s inspiring and helpful to learn from similar projects about their successes and challenges. You might find others facing the same issues. Programs like LadderUp offer group discussions and individual mentorships. This allows you to grow with community support and personalized guidance.
FreshGreens Market: Don’t underestimate the value of mentorship and peer networks. Be clear about your mission, gather data on your customers’ pain points, and iterate quickly. Programs like LadderUp offer structured guidance, grants, and industry connections—use them to fill strategic knowledge gaps and accelerate sustainable growth.
What’s next for your organization? Is there an exciting project or event coming up?
Good Grocer: Good Grocer is working with a local chef who recently launched her pop-up restaurant within our store. Additionally, we are continuing and expanding our culinary and retail training programs with a local post-secondary institution serving neurodiverse learners.
Star Farm Chicago: Coming this fall, our Fresh Market, Community Dining Space, and Shared Kitchen will offer fresh food, local goods, and meals. It will host accessible culinary programs, support local food businesses, and create a space for community dialogue to promote our mission of co-creating an equitable food system in the neighborhood.
FreshGreens Market: We’re gearing up to launch our first location - the Westside storefront this summer. In the Fall, we’ll host a grand opening/ribbon-cutting ceremony of the market with live cooking demos, urban farm tours, and a wellness workshop to celebrate our growers, educate neighbors, and solidify food sovereignty in Montgomery.
