What to Look For—and Why It Matters: Investing in Resilient Food Infrastructure

When considering where to invest in the future of food, one question stands out: What indicators should we be looking for—and why does it matter now more than ever?

At Project Feeding Ground, we believe the answer starts with reframing how we perceive  food. Not as a charitable program. Not as an optional service. But as critical infrastructure—just as essential as roads, energy grids, and internet service.

The Case for Food Infrastructure as an Asset Class

Every event, from hurricanes to global supply chain disruptions, exposes the fragility of our current food system. Grocery shelves empty within days, losses of  product, and higher price points passed on for mitigation efforts. That’s not just a humanitarian concern—it’s a systemic problem.

Simultaneously, small and mid-size farmers are left holding the bag without reliable infrastructure or fair access to markets. The result? Farmers struggle to prosper while families struggle to access fresh food. By centering farmers in the redesign of a resilient food system, we reduce systemic risk and build prosperity where it’s needed most.

Investors regularly lend capital to ports, pipelines, and warehouses. The same approach applied to resilient food infrastructure will unlock measurable financial returns with added social benefit.

What to Look For

Forward-looking investors should observe four critical attributes when evaluating food-forward investment opportunities:

• Scalability – Projects designed to replicate and mobilize across regions.

  
  

• Blended ROI – Returns that combine revenue with measurable impact in health, accessibility, and climate resilience.

  
  

• Integration – Models that link farmers, markets, healthcare systems, and consumers into one ecosystem.

  
  

• Resilience Design – Storm-ready facilities, distributed networks, and diverse revenue streams that can withstand shocks.

These attributes signal a new class of investable food infrastructure.

Food-Forward Ventures Portfolio Spotlight: The Community Resilience Food Hub

In Pasco County, Florida, Access to Fresh has secured a 10-acre site to bring this vision to life: the Community Resilience Food Hub. Land is committed, with an opportunity for investors to participate in the build-out and scaling of this model into other communities.

The opportunity:

Priority 1: Innovation + Resilience Design – Solar, water capture, and storm-ready structures designed to double as community resilience assets during disasters.

Priority 2: Aggregation + Cold Storage – Establish the backbone of the regional food supply chain with climate-controlled facilities to reduce waste and stabilize access.

Priority 3: Processing + Mobile Markets – Expand distribution through mobile fleets, prepare fresh and prepared foods, and increase reach into underserved communities.

Priority 4: New Business + Workforce Development – Embed training programs, workforce pipeline, and resilience-focused education to create long-term economic and social benefits.

The Hub is a multi-purpose, revenue-generating platform that supports economic sustainability, expanded local food production, direct  supply chains, public health, and colocation in the face of unexpected disruptions.

Unlike food banks that focus on emergency distribution, or traditional hubs that act only as intermediaries, the Community Resilience Food Hub breaks down silos—connecting local farmers with infrastructure, capital, and new markets. It equips organizations with training and shared resources, and it produces agency amongst families with consistent access to affordable, nutritious food—along with the jobs, education, and entrepreneurship pathways.

Why It Matters

Investing in food resilience is not charity—it’s smart risk management.

• Economic: New, reliable markets for farmers; job creation; and small business growth.

  
  

• Health: Prevents chronic disease and improves outcomes through consistent access to nutritious food.

  
  

• Agency: Gives underserved communities an opportunity to build resilience where it’s most needed.

  
  

• Environmental: Climate-smart design reduces emissions, waste, and disaster vulnerability.

  
  

The Community Resilience Food Hub offers a blueprint for scaling this model into new regions.

A Call to Investors

Participating as a vested partner in the Community Resilience Food Hub is an opportunity to pioneer a redesign of the food system as we know it. Its shovel-ready design enables immediate action with rapid returns, powering a scalable model for generations to come. Connect with our team to learn more!