Our Vision
We envision a resilient farm and food system, where successful farms and agricultural businesses are increasing in number and diversity, and are contributing to New England’s economic, environmental, and social well-being.
The Carrot Project supports agricultural businesses, securing their futures by breaking down financial barriers and building their paths to sustainability. We do this as business advisors and through education, advocacy, and research.
We address the most important gaps at the intersections of financial security, economic justice, financial barriers to farmland access, and farmers’ abilities to weather major disruptions.
Programs Overview
The Carrot Project combines on-the-ground programs with research, collaboration, and advocacy to create transformational change on farms, across our New England region, and at a national scale.
Our personalized services have a long track record of increasing farm profitability because we work side-by-side with farm and food entrepreneurs to achieve their business goals and thrive long-term.
Uplifting Entrepreneurs
The Carrot Project delivers business viability programs in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine, serving:
- Start-up, early-stage, scaling, and established farm and food businesses.
- Farmers and fishers who use sustainable methods and sell some or all of their products locally or regionally.
- Food entrepreneurs who source and sell some or all of their goods locally or regionally.
We provide information, training, skill-building, and capital within a carefully crafted ecosystem of support.
Our work centers on working one-on-one with farmers to push through critical challenges and build lasting success.
Services Accessed
Income Level at Beginning of Service
Stage of Business
Client Outcomes
These outcomes represent clients who completed Outcome-Based services in 2022.
Uplifting the Sector
The Carrot Project’s Agricultural Viability Alliance program connects farm, food, and forestry viability advisors in New England and the Hudson Valley.
These advisors work with farmers to build resilient businesses, access markets and farmland, execute business transitions, and achieve other goals.
Regionally, we offer a community for advisors to access professional development and mentorship, so they can do their best work.
Nationally, the Alliance brings advisors together to advance policy that ensures consistent funding for business assistance — so the groundbreaking work our network members have spearheaded for decades will be built into the sector long-term.
Together, Carrot and the Alliance are working to ensure all farm and food entrepreneurs have consistent access to the high-quality business assistance they need to thrive. Learn more here.
Advisory Board
Fred Ames | Ames Memorial Hall
Jess Brooks | Sunwealth
Apolo Cátala | Oasis on Ballou
Jennifer Hashley | New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Holly Fowler | Northbound Ventures Consulting
Christopher Laughton | Farm Credit East
Benneth Phelps | Dirt Capital
Connect With Us
617-674-2371