The Carrot Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating financing solutions for small- and midsized farms, limited-resource farms, and those using ecologically sound practices. Our singular program model is designed to incubate and establish alternative financing programs in combination with business technical assistance.

We work collaboratively with private investors, lenders, and farm support organizations. In short, we are helping to rebuild a farming system that offers stability to local farmers, provides healthful food for citizens, replenishes the environment, and is good for regional and local economies.

The Carrot Project envisions a U.S. farm sector that is diversified by size and type of farm enterprise. Thriving small and midsized farms are critical for regional food security, and have significant positive impacts on local economies, the social fabric of rural communities, and the natural environment.

The viability of such farms is not assured. A significant challenge for today’s small- and midscale farmers, and limited-resource farmers, can be finding sufficient capital to finance their businesses. On the lending side, tightening regulations, limited USDA-Farm Service Agency budgets, and the consolidation of lending institutions have resulted in fewer lenders with agricultural expertise or mandates. The Carrot Project’s research shows that 25 percent of those seeking short- and intermediate-term farm financing are unsuccessful; for start-ups, this rate jumps to 40 percent. The majority of farms seeking financing are start-ups and expanding businesses.

The Carrot Project is addressing financing gaps for small- and mid-sized farms to increase both the amount of financing available to farmers and the number of lenders working with these farms.

The Carrot Project is grateful for the donations and investments of the Alces Foundation, Barowsky's Organic Bakery, Clean Yield Asset Management, Oona Coy, Farm Aid, Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement, Fresh Pond Capital, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, MA Grinnell Charitable Trust, Carola B. Lea, Maine Community Foundation, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, NESARE Sustainable Community Grants Program, Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs, RSF Social Finance’s Seed Fund, The Sandy River Charitable Foundation, Lydia B. Stokes Foundation, Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt, Strolling of the Heifers, Trillium Asset Management, Lawson Valentine Foundation, The Vervane Foundation, Whole Foods Markets (Cambridge, MA), and many others (Up-dated 10/09).

For a complete list (we hope) to whom we are grateful in 2008.

The Carrot Project's E-newsletter is sent out 3-4 times per year. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please send a message with your name, town/city, state, and if you are a farmer to subscribe@thecarrotproject.org.

Thank you.