Who We Are
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
Our Team
Our team's diverse range of backgrounds and expertise sustain our collaborative approach to building community health and wealth through food.
13 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. 13 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
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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
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2011
2011
Founder Oran Hesterman’s book, Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, is heralded by The New York Times
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2012
2012
Fair Food Fund launches as impact investing arm providing catalytic capital and wrap around business assistance
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2013
2013
Double Up grows to 150+ sites across Michigan including grocery stores in one of the first pilots in the nation
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2014
2014
Inspired by Double Up’s impact in Michigan, 2014 farm bill includes for $100 million for nutrition incentives
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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
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2016
2016
State of Michigan and local funders propel Double Up in Flint supporting the city’s recovery from lead crisis
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2017
2017
USDA supports nutrition incentive tech innovations & grocery expansion in Michigan and with partners in Colorado and Western New York
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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2022
2022
Fair Food Network announces Kate Krauss as next CEO in January 2023 and Oran Hesterman as Founder and Resident Champion.