2026 Capital Campaign

Building a Local Meats Food Future in Tompkins County

We’re building for the future!

After 14 years of farming in Tompkins County, we’re ready for our next chapter. This May, we’re breaking ground on the Van Noble Farm Smokehouse.

This new facility will house our catering and butchering operations, allowing us to expand food access with partners like Loaves & Fishes and create new markets for local farmers. It’s an investment in a more secure, sustainable food system for all of us.

We need your help to get there. Building is a challenge in today’s economy, and we’ve set a goal to raise $40,000 by June 1st to fund the essential walk-in cooler and freezer for the smokehouse.

Help us build the systems that will sustain us for years to come.

Gift Catalog

5/23 Farm Tour Tickets

Donate to the Project

Gift Catalog

5/23 Farm Tour Tickets

Donate to the Project

Why We’re Expanding

For 14 years, we’ve been proud to feed our community. But to grow, we have to evolve.

Currently, our state licensing limits us to selling “value-added” products (like our bacon and sausages) directly to you, the individual customer. This means we can’t currently provide these goods to local restaurants, schools, food pantries, or cooperatives like GreenStar.

To bring our products to the wider wholesale market and meet USDA standards, we need a facility designed for the task. Our current kitchen has served us well, but it’s time for an upgrade that matches the scale of our mission.

What the New Facility Offers

We’ve designed this space to be a model of efficiency, safety, and sustainability:

Higher Standards: Separate, specialized rooms for raw meat, produce, and ready-to-eat products to ensure the highest levels of food safety.
More Space: Expanded square footage with dedicated prep areas, storage, and a professional dish room allowing us room to breathe on busy catering days!
Energy Efficiency: Climate-controlled production areas with high-efficiency heating and cooling to keep our team comfortable and our products fresh.
Built for Logistics: Pallet-sized doors and a dedicated loading dock will allow us to ship out cases of local products efficiently to our partners.
A New Way to Shop: We are most excited about our new retail store! Starting in Spring 2027, you can stop by at your leisure to pick up your CSA shares, grab a pack of bacon, or order a specialty roast.

Building a Resilient Food System

This isn’t just about a bigger building; it’s about a stronger food system in Tompkins County.

This facility will allow us to continue:

Support Local Farmers: Create wholesale markets for other local producers.
Increase Food Access: Expand our work with partners like Loaves & Fishes and No Mas Lagrimas.
Strengthen Resilience: Build a reliable, local supply chain that can withstand global economic and environmental shifts.

Why We’re Asking for Your Support

As a small business, we take immense pride in “making our own way.” However, between a changing climate and an unpredictable economy, the cost of building for the future is higher than ever.

We’ve watched many of our peers forced to close their doors, and we refuse to let that be our story. We are building this system to ensure our community has access to high-quality, local meat for the long haul.

Your investment helps us fund the “heart” of this project: the industrial walk-in cooler and freezer. By helping us reach our $30,000 goal, you aren’t just buying equipment—you’re helping secure a seat at the table for local food in Tompkins County.