Dennis was the first producer to enter the Accelerator program back in 2022, when he launched Belafonte Farm, and is now the program’s first graduate! In his role as a graduate, he serves as a mentor to the participants of the Accelerator.  Belafonte farm grows over 80 varieties of veg and fruit through methods that promote soil fertility, increases biological diversity, increases water efficiency and limits machine usage. He now has expanded to growing on 9 acres across Flores del Sol and his Vine property.

In its first year of the Accelerator program, Michael’s Old Town Urban Farms is building community through food. What started in 2020 as a passion project through the certified organic urban farm in Michael’s front yard has turned into a 1-acre lot through the Accelerator program. Michael leans into growing different colors and varieties of vegetables: “I’m willing to sacrifice peak production for interesting looks and better flavor”.

Eventually, Michael wants to use Old Town Urban Farms as a learning opportunity for folks in the community: “Farming is really quite simple, but it’s still a mystery to a lot of people”. At his home farm, neighbors constantly stopped by with a desire to learn, encouraging him to explore this hobby further. Michael hopes his farm can be an accessible resource in town for neighbors to learn where their food comes from.

“Sometimes it’s great to have great production, and sometimes it’s great to see a smile on someone’s faces”

Nora is in her first season with the Accelerator Program after 3 seasons with the Hispanic Women’s Farming Proyecto. While it is her first season running her own farm business, Nora has over 20 years of growing experience, learning to farm from her father in Guatemala. Mendez Farming grows a wide variety of diversified vegetables, and specializes in unique Guatemalan varieties. She utilizes sustainable agriculture practices to ensure her vegetables are the most nutritious, flavorful, and fresh!

After a year of growing and giving to family and friends, Amy officially started The Grazing Goat earlier this year, after a career as a creative director. How’d she find out about the Accelerator program? A friend encouraged her to go to a happy hour for the Accelerator program, and she “just decided to go for it.”! She still taps into her creative side by designing the logos and marketing materials for the farm.

Born and raised in west Texas, Amy grew up cotton farming. She always loved being outside and has felt very connected to plants: “It’s so cool how you can take a seed, put it in dirt and water, and new something grows.”

Amy’s best seller happened by accident. “I had my first market coming up, and was mortified that I didn’t have a harvest yet”. She decided to bottle up her Sweet Mustard salad dressing, full of local ingredients that she makes at home often. It sells out every week!

Amy is in the works of finishing a mobile trailer grocer so the farm can visit folks that may not have access to fresh food or don’t have time in their day to get to the market.