NMSDC Announces Expanded 2024 Acres Cohort Including Farmers from Louisiana
Baton Rouge, La. – The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) announced an expanded 2024 Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture cohort that includes farmers and ranchers from Louisiana and across the U.S. In its second year, Acres trains and certifies Black farmers and ranchers as diverse suppliers. Its goal is to help increase incomes as producers access new markets including commodities, grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets.
In October 2023, NMSDC announced a partnership with the Southern University Ag Center to provide instructors and course material for the Acres 12-week learning curriculum focused on growing program participants’ capacity to take on major national contracts with NMSDC corporate members.
After the program concludes, NMSDC will assist them in obtaining MBE certification.
Members of this year’s cohort include:
- Jacqueline Alexander – Morale Orchards, Hood River, Ore.
- Ina Braxton – I Urban Farm, Covington, Ga.
- Dazmonique Carr – Deeply Rooted Enterprises, Detroit, Mich.
- Samuel Cobb – Sam Cobb Farms, Desert Hot Springs, Calif.
- Donnie Cochran – Cochran Farms, Clermont, Fla.
- Millie Coleman – Farmer Millz Farms, Macon, Ga.
- Tonya Cryer – Cryer Family Produce, Mount Hermon, La.
- Emory Davis – My Mark 61 Cattle Co., Bellville, Texas
- Arthur Eaton – Triple Eaton Farm, Mount Olive, Miss.
- Tope Fajingbesi, –Dodo Farms, Silver Spring, Md.
- Ronald Friday – Candy Friday Farms, Blythewood, S.C.
- Niki and Brandon Gerrins – Sonkissed Meadows, Sylacauga, Ala.
- Darlene Hillery Goodgame – Blue Heron Urban Farms and Sanctuary, Fairburn, Ga.
- Tamu Green – C.O.O.L. Farming, Ridgeland, Miss.
- Brian Guidry – Brian Guidry’s Farm, Erath, La.
- P.J. Haynie – Haynie Farms, Burgess, Va.
- Robert Hearst – Rias Family Farm, Laurel, Ind.
- Demetrius Hunter – Black Farmers Hub, Norlina, N.C.
- Lovette Johnson – Foty Farm, Macon, Ga.
- Iris Lee – Lee Hemp Farm, Burlington, Wis.
- Christopher Muse – Muse 3 Farm LLC, Greensburg, La.
- Nia Nyamweya – Beauty Blooms, Silver Spring, Md.
- Jeremy Peaches – Fresh Life Organic, Houston, Texas
- George Poindexter – I am Health, Beauty, and Wellness Farms, Sawyerville, Ala.
- Raphaela and Elijah Polanco – Atlanta Harvest, Ellenwood, Ga.
- Kendrick Ransome – Golden Organic Farm, Tarboro, N.C.
- Sherman Reed – Five Pillars Farm, Eau Claire, Mich.
- Anita Roberson – Botanical Bites & Provisions, Fredericksburg, Va.
- Kenya Valentine – Hartwell MJ Ranch LLC, Pattison, Texas
- Todd Western – Western Family Farms, Maple Grove, Minn.
The increased support for the expanded cohort was made possible through leading agricultural and food companies Cargill and UNFI.