Who We Are

OUR STORY EQUITY & JUSTICE OUR TEAM TIMELINE

It all starts with food.

Fair Food Network began in 2009, based on the idea that food has the potential to strengthen local economies, nourish communities, and change our shared systems for the better. When we start with food, we find common ground. We can build lasting partnerships. And we can find new ways to address long-standing inequities.

Today, food continues to serve as a starting point for solutions. It remains the cornerstone of our mission: to grow community health and wealth through food. Building on over a decade of impact and growth, we're now addressing some critical challenges more directly. We're zeroing in on environmental resilience as we seek new ways to confront climate change, and we're affirming our deep commitment to equity and justice as a throughline across everything we do.

Our Values

Camaraderie

Collaboration

Common Ground

Dignity

Equity

Listening

Solutions-Orientation

DIG INTO OUR VALUES

Today and every day, we affirm and deepen our commitment to equity and justice. It is an integral part of our work, and of the world we envision.

READ OUR COMMITMENT

Our Team

Our team's diverse range of backgrounds and expertise sustain our collaborative approach to building community health and wealth through food.

MEET OUR TEAM

15 Years and Counting

We launched Fair Food Network in 2009 with an entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering commitment to our mission: to grow community health and wealth through food. 15 years in, we're just beginning. Come and explore our milestones along the way.

  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024

  • 2009

    2009

    Fair Food Network is born

    Double Up Food Bucks launches at 5 Detroit farmers markets inspired by other healthy food incentive pilots

  • 2010

    2010

    Double Up begins statewide expansion across Michigan

  • 2011

    2011

    Founder Oran Hesterman’s book, Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, is heralded by The New York Times

  • 2012

    2012

    Fair Food Fund launches as impact investing arm providing catalytic capital and wrap around business assistance

  • 2013

    2013

    Double Up grows to 150+ sites across Michigan including grocery stores in one of the first pilots in the nation

  • 2014

    2014

    Inspired by Double Up’s impact in Michigan, 2014 farm bill includes for $100 million for nutrition incentives

  • 2015

    2015

    Kate Krauss joined Fair Food Network as first Chief Operating Officer

    Fair Food Fund reaches $1 million in investments and makes cover of New York Times business section

    Statewide Michigan Good Food Fund initiative launches with Fair Food Network as founding partner and lead of technical assistance and marketing

    Fair Food Network receives first USDA grant to expand Double Up in Michigan & model spreads nationwide

  • 2016

    2016

    State of Michigan and local funders propel Double Up in Flint supporting the city’s recovery from lead crisis

  • 2017

    2017

    USDA supports nutrition incentive tech innovations & grocery expansion in Michigan and with partners in Colorado and Western New York

  • 2018

    2018

    Double Up model in communities from coast to coast inspires 2018 farm bill making support for nutrition incentives a permanent part of future farm bills

    Fair Food Fund celebrates 5 years with $3+ million in investments Every dollar invested leveraged $5 and generated nearly $9 in community benefits.

    USDA support fuels nutrition incentives in hard-to-reach communities with partners in Alabama, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Texas

  • 2019

    2019

    Kate Krauss becomes Fair Food Network’s first Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

    USDA selects Gretchen Swanson Center to launch the Nutrition Incentive Hub, a new national center supporting nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects with Fair Food Network leading technical assistance and innovation

    USDA and State of Michigan support fuels Double Up expansion to every county in Michigan, deepening reach to 30% of all SNAP recipients

    Team grows to 30+ across Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Northeast

  • 2020

    2020

    Michigan Good Food Fund marks 5 years with $17 million supporting 300 food businesses

    Fair Food Fund expands beyond Northeast with multiple investments in Michigan

    Double Up use soars during COVID with programs in 29 states use totaling $30+ million in SNAP and Double Up supporting families, local farmers, and grocers.

  • 2021

    2021

    Fair Food Network becomes manager of Michigan Good Food Fund charting community-driven process to map next chapter

    New research shows that every $1 invested in nutrition incentives could generate up to $3 in economic impact and nutrition incentive participants reported eating more fruits and vegetables than the average American adult

  • 2022

    2022

    Fair Food Network announces Kate Krauss as next CEO in January 2023 and Oran Hesterman as Founder and Resident Champion

    Usage of Double Up Food Bucks in Michigan grew 212% during the COVID Pandemic (2019 to 2022)

  • 2023

    2023

    Double Up Food Bucks in Michigan receives new investments from Michigan legislators and the USDA to help meet the significant need in Michigan as families struggle to afford high food prices

  • 2024

    2024

    Double Up Food Bucks celebrates 15 years of helping families bring home more healthy food, supporting business for local farmers, and boosting local economies through the program

It starts with food.

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