Help Agape Organic Farms Rebuild After Theft

Help Us Rebuild After a Devastating Theft

Recently, our farm was hit by a robbery that left us without essential equipment and building materials needed to complete our ongoing mushroom expansion project. This setback has been incredibly disheartening, as we pour our hearts and souls into our work.

We’re reaching out to our community for support to help us recover and finish what we started. Any contributions, big or small, would make a tremendous difference in getting us back on our feet.

Additionally, we welcome skilled individuals who might be willing to lend a hand with trade work. If you have expertise in construction, HVAC, or any related fields, we would love to collaborate and appreciate your help! We are also willing to offer farm credit in exchange for work.

Thank you for considering our request. Together, we can rebuild and continue to grow!

Who we are and what we do:

Agape Organic Farms is a 30-acre certified organic farm in Michigan, specializing in the ethical and sustainable production of purebred Berkshire pigs and over 28 varieties of gourmet mushrooms sold direct to consumer, retail, and small-scale wholesale avenues. As one of only two certified organic black-owned farms in the state and the only black-owned livestock farm, we are dedicated to empowering and supporting black-owned and organic farmers.

What sets us apart is our strong commitment to social justice and advocacy. We actively engage in initiatives to promote inclusivity and diversity in the farming community via political lobbying for farm bill inclusion and participating in several nationwide and local panels, educating and highlighting the challenges experienced by BIPOC farmers and the need for expedient change. Through partnerships with organizations serving underserved youth, we work to increase awareness and access to healthy food in marginalized communities.

We are also proud to be a long-term host and mentor for farmers and social justice leaders from various African countries through the MSU African Alliance, sharing our knowledge and resources to promote sustainable farming practices and organic agriculture in severely distressed African communities. We host several cohorts a year for 30-day intensive internships on the farm. Last year, we hosted faculty from the University of South Africa’s agricultural department at our farm for an immersive look at organic livestock and mushroom production. Our long-term vision includes establishing a farm immersion program in partnership with MSU, engaging BIPOC and underserved youth in farming and providing them with hands-on experience and knowledge about food production.

The representation of BIPOC producers in Michigan's institutional and wholesale food supply chain is alarmingly inadequate and sparse. This persistent and systemic issue stems from a chronic lack of access to capital, infrastructure, and land, which perpetuates this exclusion. Therefore, these areas of production that require significant financial investment have remained largely inaccessible to the majority of black and brown producers. This exclusion is further exacerbated by constantly widening generational wealth gaps and the structural biases inherent in the system, both overt and subtle. The existence of generational wealth gaps can be traced back to the historical legacy of slavery and the ongoing oppression experienced by former slaves in our country. The chronic systemic oppression experienced for generations deprived them of opportunities to generate wealth and establish lasting legacies for their families.