Local & organic grocery delivery
With online home delivery across the GTA, Mama Earth brings together farmers, makers, and eaters together to deliver a food experience that respects our bodies, our planet, and our shared tomorrow.
Fresh City Farms was a commercial urban farm founded in 2011 that, amongst other things, farmed for 14 growing seasons in Toronto's Downsview Park. In 2024 the farm was transitioned over to being a cooperative through the Many Hands Urban Farm Collective.
The company was established in 2011 by Ran Goel who was at the time an investment lawyer in New York. Fresh City was founded to help usher in a kinder and more just food system after Goel observed the fragility of existing infrastructures during the financial crisis.
Fresh City was extensively covered in news articles, videos, academic articles and several documentaries.
- Abra Snider hired as first employee (she would go on to fill many roles and is currently COO of Mama Earth).
- Secures lease for 0.5 acres and some greenhouse space at Downsview Park from FoodCycles, a nonprofit that founded a farm there.
- Damian Adjodha is first farm manager.
- A dozen "member farmers" learn to grow at the Downsview farm and secure around 20 yards to farm.
- First harvest of snowpeas in delivery to 6 homes in June 2011.
- Launch event in August 2011 at 401 Richmond.
- Phil Collins becomes the farm manager.
- Fresh City secures around 1 acre of land at Downsview and 3,000 square foot greenhouse after FoodCycle's withdrawal.
- Member farmer program transitioned to centralized approach as yards were not viable.
- Founding partner at Black Creek Community Farm.
- Ran urban farming workshops for over 1000.
- Food Fighter documentary spanning 3 growing seasons commenced by Paula Kaston.
- Grew member farmer program to 20 people.
- Moved packing operation from greenhouse to an old grocery store across Keele street.
- Marie-Monique Robin shot a documentary Sacrée Croissance.
- Set up aquaponics system in the greenhouse.
- Hannah Hunter becomes the farm manager.
- Established the temporary "Farm Lot" at King/Spadina intersection in partnership with TAS DesignBuild.
- Moved to 8,000 square foot warehouse on Colville Street with 100km Foods.
- Ontario Premier Kathlyne Wynne visits the farm.
- Fresh City partners with Baka to build a glass greenhouse off the 427.
- Moved packing operation to a 20,000 square foot warehouse on Samor Road.
- Fresh City wins RFP to establish an urban farm on 11-acres at south-west corner of Downsview Park.
- Julianne Keech and Jeremy Stojan become farm managers.
- Record farmstand revenues as people seek outdoor recreational options during COVID lockdown period.
- Jeremy Stojan becomes farm manager.
- Commence farming at the new 11-acre farm on a limited plot.
- Struck committee to select new "farm partners" to ensure equity. Reduced number of farmers to ensure sufficient land of around 0.5 acres per farm-based operation.
- Construction mostly complete at new farm with greenhouses and Barn being used.
- Hosted dozens of "Candlelight Concerts" in the Barn.
- Transition to a cooperative begins in the early growing season.
- Last harvests in October.
