Local Produce Grown by Kansas City Farmers
New Roots is a training program that empowers refugees, immigrants and English Language Learner farmers to develop sustainable businesses.
The collaboration between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC helps individuals with an agricultural background in their home countries adapt to Kansas City climate and culture while supporting their families.
Our trainee and graduate farmers use organic principles and sell their produce to local restaurants, at farmers markets and through Farm Share subscriptions.
Empowering Refugees, Immigrants & English Language Learners
25 Markets
Farmers and graduates sell at 25 markets across the Kansas City metro, including Lawrence, Overland Park, Independence, Parkville, Lee's Summit and Liberty.
46 Graduates
Of the 46 farmers who graduated through the New Roots program, 31 still grow food and 25 continue to grow and sell in the KC metro.
16 Acres
New Roots graduates currently farm 16 acres of land. The Juniper Gardens training farm, which follows organic practices, has quarter-acre to one-acre plots for each trainee farmer.
Purchase our local, sustainably-grown produce
Farm Share
Sign up for weekly vegetable deliveries and enjoy a season's worth of locally grown, fresh produce.
Markets
Shop from New Roots farmers and graduates at local farmers markets across the greater Kansas City metro.
Online
During our Farm Share season, we also sell individual produce items available for pickup at local organizations.
Interested in purchasing wholesale for a restaurant or other retailer? More Details.
2023 STATISTICS
Recent Blog Posts
🚌We went on a field trip to Fox and Pearl!
🥗Did you know some of the New Roots farmers cultures don’t eat raw vegetables often?
🥗We teach all our farmers common recipes in American culture so they can better market their produce. Getting out of the classroom and actually seeing how wholesale customers use their produce helps farmers understand the quality and consistency needed to run a successful farm business.
🥗This is why we’ve partnered with local restaurants like Fox and Pearl to give New Roots farmers an opportunity to learn first-hand how their customers use local produce.
🥗Fox and Pearl graciously opened their restaurant to us a couple weeks ago, and farmers learned how much thought and care goes into each of Chef Vaughn Good’s dishes. Then, they got to see and taste the delicious flavors he’s created with locally grown food.
🥗It was an amazing learning experience, and we are so grateful to Chef Vaughn, Kristine, and the entire Fox and Pearl Staff!
💚🌱
@foxandpearlkc
@cultivatekc
@catholiccharitiesks
Mar 7
Don’t need a farm share, but still want to support New Roots farmers?
💚If you donate towards our farm share fund, you are directly supporting farmers while also filling the food pantry with healthy veggies.
🌱Click the link in our bio to donate today.
New Roots is partnership between @cultivatekc and @catholiccharitiesks. In our 4 year training program, we empower new-Americans as they start their own farm business.
#urbanag #kansascity #kck #kcmo #supportlocal #supportfarmers
Feb 28
A New Roots farm share is a vegetable subscription that gets you local, farm-fresh vegetables each week of the summer! Plus, each purchase provides income to New Roots farmers-in-training!
We have 6 different pickup options available with locations spread throughout Kansas City, Overland Park, and—new this year— Lenexa! Payment plans are also available.
Sign up at the link in our bio!
New Roots is a partnership between @cultivatekc and @catholiccharitiesks. We provide 4 years of farm business training and income opportunities to refugee and immigrant families.
Feb 20
➡️ Swipe ➡️ to the end to see the best summer hair accessories on the farm! 🌸 And read below for our Valentine’s Day offer! ⬇️
♥️Want a Valentine’s Day gift that is local, sustainable, and supports immigrant families? Look no further than the New Roots Flower Share!
💌 Order *before* February 13, and we’ll email you a pretty little print-out to have ready for your Valentine (see the 2 examples above). Then, your Valentine will get 6 weeks of beautiful flowers starting in July!
🔗 Link in bio (Click the “Flower Share 2025 Sign Up” button).
Feb 6
English for Farming classes started in November and end this week. One thing farmers learn is how to discuss cooking vegetables with their farmers market customers. To apply those lessons, we had a cooking class a few weeks ago where a couple farmers taught the rest of the class (and staff) how to make a Burmese noodle dish and soup. Not only did we practice English together, but we also got to share about our different cultures, find joy in our similarities and differences, and simply show gratitude and pride for everything immigrants bring to our community.
Thank you to @themerccoop for allowing us to use their kitchen space!
Jan 28
Meet Veronica Ma Ket!
Veronica is the New Roots Sales Specialist. She organizes wholesale, online, and farm share orders. During the summer, she is usually at the farm organizing orders, categorizing, packing, and loading vegetables for delivery. Veronica speaks Burmese among several other languages, so farmers often go to her with their questions, and Veronica always helps them find an answer. Her favorite part of her job is being able to give back to the community she grew up in.
Veronica finds inspiration from her mother, who is a graduate of the New Roots program. Her mom doesn’t speak English which has inspired Veronica to use her interpretation skills to help other New Roots farmers become successful like her mom.
Bok choy and water spinach are Veronica’s favorite vegetables. They are a quick, 10 minute side dish that she enjoys eating with anything. (If you’ve never tried these two veggies, plenty of farmers will have them available for you to purchase this summer!)
Since Veronica is one of the staff members who has been with New Roots the longest, she has become an important mentor and guide for new staff. She is always willing to help others and answer questions and, frankly, we aren’t sure what we’d do without her! Thank you for all you do, Veronica! 💚🌱
Jan 16
🍺Double Shift Brewing and Border Brewing collaborated with New Roots to take local farmer-grown produce from the garden to your glass!
🌍Be among the first to try “Stout of This World,” BEER on Saturday, November 30th. The breweries will generously donate $1 to New Roots for every pint of Stout of This World sold.
🎟️AND, on Small Business Saturday, November 30th, there will be a raffle at both brewery locations! Every pint you purchase will get you a raffle ticket for the possibility of winning a pretty sweet swag bag filled with goodies from both breweries and New Roots.
🍠Inspired by New Roots farmers and the multicultural flavors they bring to the table, this dark ale features classic cold-weather flavors such as pumpkin, sweet potato, and cinnamon, but with an international twist of fresh ginger, hot peppers, and subtle curry notes. The Asian pumpkins, sweet potatoes, fresh ginger, and Thai peppers used in the beer were all grown locally by New Roots farmers!
🌱New Roots, a partnership between Cultivate KC and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, is a four-year farming and business training program for immigrants and refugees. In the first year of the program, farmers begin making an income for their families and by their fourth year, they have their own farm business.
🍻Don’t miss this opportunity to support multiple small businesses while drinking great beer! See you Saturday!
@doubleshiftbrewing
@borderbrewco
@cultivatekc
Art by Candace Riedel
Nov 27
