Cargill and UNFI Support Expansion of NMSDC Acres Program to Cultivate Equity in Black Agriculture

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is expanding a program focused on increasing economic opportunity for Black farmers and ranchers. Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture trains and certifies Black farmers and ranchers as diverse suppliers. The goal is to help increase incomes as producers access new markets including grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets. Founding partner Cargill and UNFI have contributed more than $500,000, with a goal of tripling the number of trained ranchers and farmers to help build greater equity in the United States food system.

“We are incredibly excited for the continued interest in NMSDC Acres. Cargill and UNFI’s leadership in supporting this effort to create greater equity for the Black community will help us to grow the program and make meaningful progress towards a more inclusive agricultural system,” said NMSDC Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Programs, and Events Lisa Morris.

According to data from McKinsey & Company, just 1.4% of farmers identify as Black or mixed race compared with about 14% a century ago. Furthermore, they represent less than 0.5% of total U.S. farm sales. And Black agricultural practitioners operate at 70% of US peer-level farm revenue. Cargill and NMSDC designed the recently renamed Acres program to address this issue and advance agricultural supply chain access for Black individuals. Benefits for participants include strategic business support and skills development including NMSDC-certification assistance and access to funding opportunities.

“UNFI is proud to support NMSDC Acres as a founding circle member in the effort to create a more inclusive agricultural system in the United States,” said Guillaume Bagal, VP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Wellbeing at UNFI.

“We are working with farmers, customers and organizations like NMSDC to close equity gaps that have existed for too long in the fabric of our food system,” said Cargill’s Supplier Diversity Lead Natalie McGrady. “Our partnership with NMSDC is one example of our commitment to work with diverse suppliers. We launched the Black Farmer Equity Initiative to help increase participation, productivity, and profitability by putting farmers, ranchers, and growers at the center of the solution.

To learn more about Acres, visit https://nmsdc.org/black-farmers-equity-initiative/. If other organizations are interested in investing in this initiative, they can email Brandi Wiggins at Brandi.Wiggins@nmsdc.org.

About Cargill
Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our 155,000 team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainability way.

From the feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how we’ve met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 157 years—and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About UNFI
UNFI is North America’s premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, ecommerce providers, and food service customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary technology, data, market insights, and shelf management to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is committed to building a food system that is better for all and is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is Fueling the Future of Food, visit www.unfi.com.

NMSDC is hosting the Soul of the Soil: Black Farmer Opportunity Exchange, a gathering that aims to shed light on the challenges faced by Black farmers and foster collaborative discussions to chart a path toward equity within the industry. The event will take place at Harrah’s New Orleans Casino on June 29 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and includes an impressive lineup of industry leaders and esteemed panelists who are at the forefront of advocating for change.

The Soul of the Soil: Black Farmer Opportunity Exchange is a carefully curated event designed to expose the harsh realities of the agricultural inequities faced by Black farmers. By bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, and key organizations, NMSDC aims to leverage their collective power, wealth, and networks to foster equity within the agricultural landscape.

Several important conversations will take place during the event including:

• A panel discussion titled Breaking Ground: The Power of the Black Farmer, moderated by Ma’at LaTham of Sunfired. Panelists include James Davis, Jr. of Bushels and Bales Farms, a representative from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Valencia Cooper of Cargill, which will bring together diverse perspectives to address the challenges faced by Black farmers and explore potential solutions.
• A presentation from Tamara Maxwell of EXIM about opportunities in exporting, highlighting avenues for Black farmers to expand their reach and tap into international markets.
• A fireside chat on the benefits of NMSDC certification featuring Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council (SRMSDC) Regional Director of MBE Services Mark Samuel and NMSDC Senior Director Constance Jones, delving into the advantages of certification and how it can support Black farmers in their pursuit of success.
• A candid conversation between Ron Busby, Sr., president and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., (USBC) and P. J. Haynie, co-chair of the National Black Growers Council focused on exposing the challenges faced by Black farmers and highlighting the urgent need for change.

Today just 1.4% of farmers identify as Black or mixed race and Black Farmers represent less than 0.5% of total US farm sales according to McKinsey & Company. Even more alarming is the fact that over a century ago, Black farmers represented 14% of the population.

In conjunction with NMSDC’s recently renamed Acres program, This transformative event will ignite thought partnerships, inspire leadership, and foster collaborative discussions that strive for the sustainable and long-overdue change needed to reverse this disturbing trend.

For more information, contact NMSDC Program and Project Manager Brandi Wiggins at Brandi.Wiggins@nmsdc.org.