A more just, resilient, and self-sustainable food system
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and rural producers have few opportunities to access high-profit niche and value-added food markets. The Equity and Climate Marketplace empowers a more just, resilient, and self-sustaining food system by connecting these food producers and entrepreneurs to business support, supply chains, and buyers.
Through a practice of listening and learning, The Wave Foundation built deep connections with BIPOC communities through its Food Program, which prioritizes sourcing from these providers and providing healthy, sustainable, and culturally relevant foods to these communities.
The Equity and Climate Marketplace is a mixed-mode platform for creating fully integrated, values-based supply chains that link rural Indigenous and disadvantaged producers with direct-to-consumer markets and intermediated buyers at local, regional, and national scales, such as: such as Delaware North, Levy Restaurants, Sodexo, Restaurant Associates, business & industry campuses, large event venues, including professional sports stadiums, amphitheaters, convention centers, zoos and aquariums, and universities and colleges.
By connecting these food producers and entrepreneurs to business support, supply chains, and buyers, The Equity and Climate Marketplace empowers a more just, resilient, and self-sustainable food system.
Sustained Support
The Equity and Climate Marketplace fosters multiple supply chains, providing self-sustaining economic development.
Food producers and entrepreneurs have access to business and supply chain support, including: sales, packaging, liability insurance, compliance requirements, value-added processing, working capital, warehousing, branding & marketing, including curation and development.
The Equity and Climate Marketplace is a catalyst for investment in all participating communities.
Partnerships that leverage connection
This project leverages The Wave Foundation’s and 5 Star Chef’s extensive supply chain connections in the United States. Robert Soper, member of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, brings his experience and network to create new opportunities for Tribes whose members face dire economic conditions.