Rooted Inc

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ROOTED FARMERS HAS DEVELOPED A DYNAMIC ONLINE PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES BROAD, REGIONAL MARKET ACCESS ACROSS WHOLESALE AND RETAIL CHANNELS FOR SMALL- AND MID-SIZED FARMS. OUR CURRENT PLATFORM SERVICES DOMESTIC FLORICULTURE AND IS DIFFERENTIATED BY ITS CAPACITY TO SEAMLESSLY STANDARDIZE AND AGGREGATE SUPPLY ACROSS A FRAGMENTED, RURAL SUPPLY CHAIN VIA A DYNAMIC, DATABASE DRIVEN SOLUTION THAT UNIQUELY SERVICES THE PRODUCER HUB MODEL. LAUNCHED NATIONWIDE IN 2020, WE HAVE SINCE SCALED TO MORE THAN 530 FARMS, 30 PRODUCER HUBS/COOPERATIVES, AND 3,000 WHOLESALE BUYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH ROBUST SUPPLIER HUBS IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, KENTUCKY, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, MISSOURI, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, CALIFORNIA, AND MORE. ACTIVE USERS DEMONSTRATE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN LABOR HOURS (75%+) WITH SIMULTANEOUS REVENUE GROWTH (250% AVERAGE INCREASES), ATTRIBUTABLE TO ROOTED'S STREAMLINED PURCHASING PROCESS, FARM-TAILORED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT TOOLS, AND A DEMONSTRATED NETWORK EFFECT. THROUGH PHASE I, THE ROOTED FARMERS TEAM MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON A USER-INFORMED APPLICATION TO SERVICE OTHER MODES OF SPECIALTY CROP AGRICULTURE. RESEARCH INCLUDED THREE MAIN PHASES: FIRST, THE TEAM ADMINISTERED A QUANTITATIVE SURVEY TO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND DEFINE MAJOR PAIN POINTS FOR FARMERS; THIS SURVEY IDENTIFIED THAT OVER 80% OF PARTICIPANTS BELIEVE THAT THEIR ABILITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUYERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE INVENTORY ACROSS ALL FARM PRODUCTS ARE KEY TO THEIR BUSINESSES' FUTURE SUCCESS. SECOND, WE CONDUCTED QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS WITH 20 SMALL FARMS, 23 BUYERS AND 9 HUB ADMINISTRATORS SERVING MORE THAN 400 SMALL- AND MIDSIZED FARMS NATIONWIDE. FINALLY, BY INTEGRATING BUYER AND SELLER FEEDBACK, AS WELL AS EXPERTISE FROM KEY INDUSTRY PARTNERS, THE ROOTED TEAM CREATED STATIC PROTOTYPES ON WHICH WE COLLECTED FEEDBACK FROM USERS. OUR KEY DISCOVERY: THE MOST CRITICAL FIRST STEP TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AT SCALE FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMS IS TO BEGIN WITH A FOUNDATIONAL SOLUTION FOR FOOD HUBS. NOW, IN PHASE II, OUR ROOTED FARMERS TEAM WILL:(1) COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUNCTIONAL ONLINE FOOD-BASED PLATFORM;(2) WORK WITH COMMERCIALIZATION PARTNERS, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS AND ECONOMISTS AT THEUNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND AGRICULTURE AND CORNELL'S COLLEGEOF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES, TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS EXPERTS AT RENSSELAER POLYTECHNICINSTITUTE, AND OPERATORS AT FOOD HUBS, FARMS, AND WHOLESALE BUYERS ACROSS THE NATION TO COMPLETEEARLY-STAGE, REAL-WORLD TESTING OF THE PLATFORM AND COLLECT SUCCESS METRICS IN TERMS OF LABOR HOURS,SALES, PROFITABILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR USERS; AND(3) SCALE-UP EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE CUSTOMER BASE AND PREPARE FOR BRINGING THE ROOTED FARMERSPLATFORM TO MARKET.BY THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR PHASE II PROJECT, WE WILL HAVE DEVELOPED AND BE PREPARED TO ROLL OUT A TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT THAT EMPOWERS SMALL- AND MID-SIZE FARMS TO STREAMLINE OPER,ATIONS AND BECOME MORE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, WHILE ALSO MAKING OUR NATION'S FOOD CHAIN MORE RESILIENT AND ROBUST.

ROOTED FARMERS WILL ENHANCE AN ONLINE SALES PLATFORM FOR SMALL FARMS. THIS PLATFORM IS LED BY A TEAM OF FARMERS AND FACILITATES HYPERLOCAL DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THROUGH OUR NETWORKED VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE. THIS CENTRAL LOCATION ALLOWS FARMS TO ACCESS PROMOTE AND SELL PRODUCTS TO AN AUDIENCE OF LOCAL BUYERS. THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND THE ONLINE PLATFORM BENEFITTING FOOD HUBS SPECIALTY CROP FARMS AND VALUEADD PRODUCERS ACROSS THE US.

TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY CHALLENGES FACED BY STUDENTS IN MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (MMSD), WE LOOK TO THE 2023 DANE COUNTY PANDEMIC FOOD SYSTEM STUDY WHICH DETERMINED, CHILDREN ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE FOOD SYSTEM, WHICH HAS IMPLICATIONS ON THEIR FOOD AND DIETARY CHOICES AS WELL AS THEIR CONNECTION TO AGRICULTURE AS A PROFESSION. MANY CHILDREN LACK ACCESS TO NUTRITION, COOKING, AND GARDEN EDUCATION (DANE COUNTY PANDEMIC FOOD SYSTEM STUDY, P. 57). ROOTED HAS A LONG HISTORY OF GARDEN EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INVOLVING MMSD STUDENTS AND IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO HELP RECONNECT STUDENTS TO THEIR FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH A NETWORK OF ESTABLISHED AGRICULTURE SITES WITHIN SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.FOR THIS PROJECT ROOTED PROPOSES THE 'I GREW THAT!': STUDENT PROPELLED SCHOOL LUNCHES PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BUILD UPON A SUCCESSFUL 2023 PILOT PROJECT CONNECTING ROOTED-LED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES WITH PAID HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE LEARNING JOBS TO SUPPLY STUDENT GROWN PRODUCE FOR MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT LUNCHES. THE I GREW THAT! PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FIRST THROUGH THIRD GRADE WITH FOUNDATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LESSONS, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE STARTING SEEDS, AND A VISIT TO A ROOTED FARM TO HARVEST AND TASTE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. STUDENTS IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURAL LESSONS AND GROW TRANSPLANTS TO BE PLANTED AT ONE OF ROOTED'S FARMS. THESE PLANTS WILL BE CARED FOR AND HARVESTED BY PAID HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH EMPLOYEES, EXPRESSLY FOR THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND PEER TASTING EVENTS. IN ORDER TO GAIN MORE VOICE IN WHAT THEY EAT AT SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EVALUATING STUDENT-GROWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE VARIETIES AND WILL SAMPLE RECIPES DEVELOPED BY HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY PROGRAMS. THROUGH THEIR TASTE TESTING, THE STUDENTS WILL DETERMINE WHICH PRODUCE IS MOST PREFERRED AND RECOMMEND WHICH STUDENT RECIPES TO INCORPORATE INTO SCHOOL LUNCHES. AT ITS CORE, THIS PROJECT ENABLES STUDENTS TO INTIMATELY LEARN ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE WITHIN THEIR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. STUDENTS ACROSS THE PROGRAM WILL BE AFFORDED ENGAGING HANDS-ON AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCES, ALL OF WHICH ARE INTENDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A STUDENT-INFORMED SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND AN INCREASE IN LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD IN MMSD SCHOOL MEALS, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES MADE BY MMSD STUDENTS.

DEMAND IS INCREASING FOR LOCALLY-GROWN FOODS, BUT SMALL- AND MID-SIZE FARMS STRUGGLE TO SCALE THEIR OPERATIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A HIGHLY FRAGMENTED SUPPLY CHAIN. THE APPLICATION OF ROOTED FARMERS' TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS DEMONSTRATED IMPROVED SCALABILITY (UP TO 250% YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH IN SALES) AND CORRESPONDING ECONOMIES OF SCALE (75% REDUCTION IN ADMINISTRATIVE LABOR HOURS) AMONG SMALL- AND MID-SIZE FLORICULTURE OPERATIONS BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE US. TRANSLATING THIS TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE-FOCUSED AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO YIELD ANALOGOUS RESULTS, MEANINGFULLY INCREASING PROFITABILITY AND SCALABILITY AMONG SUCH SMALL- AND MID-SIZE FARMS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVING CRITICAL QUALITY-OF-LIFE FACTORS. ROOTED'S DEMONSTRATED EFFECTIVENESS IN INCREASING SALES AND IMPROVING PROFITABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS FLORICULTURE FARMS TRANSLATES TO US PRODUCE FARMERS, WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GREAT.IN THIS PROJECT, THE ROOTED TEAM INTENDS TO BUILD OFF OF ITS SUCCESFUL FLORICULTURE PLATFORM AND EXPAND INTO PRODUCE CROPS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE SAME TECHNICAL SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO FLORICULTURE CAN BROADEN ITS IMPACT BY HELPING GROWERS OF OTHER CROPS TO INCREASE PROFITABILITY AND SCALE THROUGH STREAMLINING MARKET ACCESS AND REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORTS REQUIRED OF GROWERS. AT ITS CORE, THE ROOTED PLATFORM AGGREGATES GROWER INVENTORY AND PROVIDES MARKET ACCESS OF THAT INVENTORY TO BUYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO ENSURE THAT PRODUCE FARMERS' AND BUYERS' VIEWPOINTS DRIVE THE DESIGN OF THE PLATFORM, THIS PROJECT WILL START WITH QUALITATIVE MARKET RESEARCH TO INFORM ULTIMATE SOFTWARE DESIGN. UPON MODIFICATIONS TO THE ROOTED SOFTWARE, WE WILL VALIDATE THE EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH PILOT LAUNCHES OF THE UPDATED PLATFORM (INCLUDING PRODUCE) AND CONDUCTFOLLOW-UP INTERVIEWS WITH MARKET RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS TO QUANTIFY THE SUCCESS OF THE PLATFORM ALONG KEY METRICS.

ROOTED FARMERS (HANOVER, NH) HAS DEVELOPED A DYNAMIC ONLINE PLATFORM THAT IS DIFFERENTIATED BY ITS CAPACITY TO SEAMLESSLY STANDARDIZE AND AGGREGATE SUPPLY ACROSS A FRAGMENTED, RURAL SUPPLY CHAIN, PROVIDING BROAD, REGIONAL MARKET ACCESS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS. ROOTED'S PLATFORM SERVES FARMERS NATIONALLY BY PROVIDING EFFICIENCY TOOLS TO PRODUCERS, SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS AND PROVIDING DETAILED SALES DATA INSIGHTS. ROOTED HAS GAINED MEANINGFUL COMMERCIAL TRACTION FOLLOWING PREVIOUS AWARDS AND EXECUTION ON USDA-NIFA-SBIR FUNDING, WITH HUNDREDS OF FARMERS AND HUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY VALIDATING A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN LABOR HOURS, AN INCREASE IN SALES, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF BUYERS. DESPITE THESE ADVANCES, GLARING INDUSTRY AND OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN DATA SURROUNDING ON-FARM FOOD LOSS REMAIN, COSTING FARMERS BOTH TIME AND MONEY. THESE GAPS RESULT IN DIMINISHED PROFITABILITY AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY; ADDITIONALLY, THEY COMPOUND CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING STABLE LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY ACROSS AREAS WITH LIMITED FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE. OUR PROPOSED WORK TO AUTOMATE, TRACK, AND PROVIDE DATA INSIGHTS ON UNSOLD INVENTORY IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM OUR SMALL FARM AND HUB MEMBERS. THIS FUNDING PROVIDES ROOTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ITS PREEXISTING PLATFORM TO PROVIDE PRODUCERS VISIBILITY INTO UNREALIZED REDUCTIONS IN SALES AND CROP LOSSES. THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE: 1) SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT, BASED ON INPUT FROM A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF FARMERS FROM MULTIPLE REGIONS; 2) DATA MODEL REDESIGN AND PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT THE AUTOMATED CAPTURE OF UNSOLD INVENTORY; AND 3) TESTING AND VALIDATION OF THE DATA MODEL AND INVENTORY PROTOTYPE TOOLS, INCLUDING ITERATIVE IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON FARMER FEEDBACK.?

DANE COUNTY GARDEN REVITALIZATION

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

ENHANCE AND EXPAND EXISTING COMMUNITY GARDENS THROUGHOUT DANE COUNTY BY ESTABLISHING NEW GARDENS, RAISED BEDS, CONSERVATION PRACTICES, LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR ORGANIZERS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, WORKSHOP.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT A DANCE TOUR AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS).

TO SUPPORT PERSONNEL COSTS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

REAP RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM (RES) GRANT UNRESTRICTED AMOUNT - IRA 24/31

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT PRODUCTIONS AND A COLLABORATION WITH DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATER AND BALLET HISPÁNICO.

TO SUPPORT ARTIST FEES FOR A RESIDENCY WITH CHOREOGRAPHER ALFRED DOVE AT DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATER.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

TO SUPPORT ARTIST FEES FOR THE PRESENTATION OF ESSENCE A PORTRAIT OF FOUR WOMEN BY CHOREOGRAPHER MARTIAL ROUMAIN.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.