In the rolling landscapes of Loudoun County, Virginia, a quiet revolution is taking place—one rooted in the soil and fueled by the conviction that healthy, organic food is a fundamental human right. In 2025, the JK Community Farm, a 150-acre nonprofit powerhouse, reached a historic milestone by donating over 260,000 pounds of nutrient-dense produce and high-quality proteins to food-insecure families across Northern Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Since its inception in 2018, the farm has evolved from a visionary project into a vital pillar of the regional food system. With a cumulative total of 1.5 million pounds donated over the last seven years, the farm is proving that the solution to food insecurity isn’t just about calories—it’s about nutrition, dignity, and community-led resilience.
A Record-Breaking Year of Impact
The 2025 growing season was defined by both unprecedented challenges and extraordinary success. As economic pressures continued to squeeze household budgets, the demand for fresh, chemical-free food spiked. The JK Community Farm met this urgency head-on.
2025 by the Numbers:
- 260,000 Pounds Donated: Every ounce was grown intentionally for the community, focusing on variety and nutrient density rather than just bulk weight.
- 1 Million+ Servings: These donations translated into over a million individual servings of fresh meals for those who need them most.
- 7,000+ Volunteers: A testament to the power of collective action, the farm saw a massive influx of help, with 70% of participants coming from corporate teams looking to give back.
- Daily Distribution: To ensure maximum freshness, food was picked up daily by an elite network of partners, including Loudoun Hunger Relief, Food for Others, the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), and DC Central Kitchen.
“With the help of volunteers, partners, students, and supporters, we were able to provide more healthy, chemical-free foods during this trying year,” says Samantha Kuhn, Executive Director of JK Community Farm. “Every pound we grew and donated represented a healthy meal for parents able to prepare fresh food for their children; a senior who no longer had to choose between groceries and medicine; and a student who tasted a fruit or vegetable they helped harvest.”
More Than Just a Farm: The Pillar of Dignity
The philosophy at JK Community Farm extends far beyond the rows of crops. For Kuhn and her team, the mission is centered on food justice. In many underserved communities, “food” often comes in the form of shelf-stable, highly processed goods. While these items prevent immediate starvation, they often contribute to long-term health issues like diabetes and heart disease.
By focusing on “soil-to-plate” nutrition, the farm ensures that recipients aren’t just eating—they are thriving. Kuhn emphasizes that the produce is a vehicle for dignity. When a family receives a box of vibrant, organic kale, crisp apples, or fresh proteins, they are receiving a message that their health and well-being matter.
Empowering the Next Generation: Education and Advocacy
Education is the second half of the JK Community Farm’s mission. In 2025 alone, 2,500 students participated in hands-on learning programs. These aren’t just standard field trips; they are immersive experiences where students from diverse backgrounds engage in “soil-to-plate” learning.
These programs are meticulously aligned with Virginia educational standards, ensuring that while students are getting their hands dirty, they are also meeting critical curriculum goals in science, biology, and social studies. The farm’s Outdoor Food Learning Center serves as the heart of this initiative, featuring:
- An Outdoor Classroom: A dedicated space for academic instruction in the fresh air.
- Sensory Exploration Zones: Designed to help children explore the natural world through touch, smell, and sight, fostering a lifelong connection to the environment.
- Life Skills Development: Teaching children where their food comes from and how to grow it—an essential skill in an increasingly urbanized world.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Scaling the Mission
While 2025 was a year of celebration, the team at JK Community Farm is already looking toward a more ambitious future. The goals for 2026 are clear: Grow more. Educate more. Feed more.
1. Increased Production
The farm has set a target to grow 280,000 pounds of food in 2026. This increase is a direct response to the growing waitlists at local food banks. To achieve this, the farm is issuing an open call for more volunteers, particularly corporate teams, who provide the necessary “people power” to manage such a massive acreage.
2. The Food Education Center
The most significant expansion in the farm’s history will begin in 2026: the construction of a 7,200-square-foot Food Education Center. This facility will bridge the gap between agricultural production and community engagement. Key features will include:
- Essential Infrastructure: Restrooms, shelter, and modern cold storage to preserve the harvest.
- Flash Freezing Kitchen: This will allow the farm to process surplus produce during the peak of summer, ensuring that fresh nutrition is available even during the winter months.
- Community Space: A hub for nutrition workshops, farm-to-table fundraising dinners, and agricultural seminars.
“The produce we grow is more than food. It is health. It is dignity,” says Kuhn. “As we prepare for the 2026 growing season, we are committed to growing more variety, more nutrients, more access, and more opportunity.”
How the Community Can Get Involved
The success of the JK Community Farm is a direct result of community investment. As the farm prepares for its most ambitious year yet, there are several ways for individuals and organizations to contribute:
- Volunteerism: Whether as an individual or a corporate group, hands-on labor is what keeps the farm running. From planting seedlings in the spring to the massive harvest pushes in the fall, there is always work to be done.
- Philanthropy: The construction of the Food Education Center and the purchase of organic seeds and supplies require significant capital. Donating ensures that the “abundance” Kuhn speaks of remains a reality.
- Educational Partnerships: Schools and youth organizations are encouraged to book field trips early to take advantage of the expanded Outdoor Food Learning Center.
A Model for the Future
The JK Community Farm is more than a local nonprofit; it is a blueprint for how communities can reclaim their food systems. By combining large-scale organic farming with rigorous education and a robust distribution network, they are proving that hunger is a solvable problem when met with intention and resources.
As the sun sets on a record-breaking 2025, the rows are already being prepared for the next season. The mission remains the same: to ensure that no neighbor goes without the nourishment they deserve, and that the next generation grows up with a deep, tangible understanding of the earth that feeds them.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
