Fresh Impact Farms Offers a New Lens on Urban Agriculture

January 20, 2022 | By Cara O'Donnell

Ryan Pierce is an entrepreneur with a passion for great food – specifically, making the food system more equitable and sustainable. In 2018, he made the decision to take his passion and his skills in data and turn that into a business of urban agriculture. He created Fresh Impact Farms, a rapidly growing urban, hydroponic farm and Arlington’s only commercial farm, along the Langston Boulevard corridor, providing unique microgreens and other specialty products to both the world class chefs of the DC area as well as consumers via a community supported agriculture (CSA) program.

“There’s a huge demand out there for better produce,” said Pierce. “We want people to see how their food is grown and understand more about the food system at large.”

The pandemic required Pierce to shift his original business model of targeting high end chefs to also including a consumer product – he now has a dedicated following of residents who receive weekly microgreen supplies via a CSA. And the business is growing more than ever.

Nearly a year ago, Fresh Impact Farms announced it will invest $137,500 and more than double production at its Arlington County indoor facility. That expansion is now well underway, as is the farm’s loyal following of not only local chefs, but home cooks looking to experiment more with specialty herbs and ensure fresh greens throughout the year. Once complete, the expansion will include a second grow room, larger production facility, and an educational hub where, post-pandemic, customers will be able to see how their food is harvested. Over the next three years, the company expects to grow an additional 10,500 pounds of Virginia-grown leafy greens, herbs, and edible flowers for restaurant and CSA customers.

“You’ll be able to walk into the front of the farm and see right through into the production space,” explains Pierce. “You’ll be able to watch someone go back and harvest your food right before your eyes. There’s really nothing like it right now.”

Pierce says he chose Arlington not just because of the central location in the D.C. area, but also because of the commitment within the community to using more sustainable methods for farming and food production. He calls Fresh Impact a new and transformational experience for agriculture, as well as a way to mitigate the impact of climate change.

The customer base has really embraced us,” he said. “Arlingtonians really care about their food.”