MINNESOTA: Route1 - Growing Food, Feeding People, Connecting With The Earth
Route1 founder Marcus Carpenter admires Freight Farm’s kale harvest. Credit: Courtesy of Route1
Growing food, feeding people, connecting with the earth
The morning sun casts long shadows over the fields as farmers swiftly load crates of freshly harvested produce onto a waiting distribution truck. The scent of damp earth and ripened vegetables fills the crisp Minnesota air. A rhythmic chorus of voices calls out orders as hands pass boxes from one to another, each filled with vibrant greens and fragrant herbs. The truck’s reverse alarm beeps steadily, a signal of movement and progress.
Standing at a distance, Marcus Carpenter watches with quiet satisfaction. His dream, Route1 — born from a time of crisis and a deep-rooted passion for agriculture — has manifested before his eyes. The food will soon be on its way to those who need it most, carrying a message of resilience and empowerment.
“When you hear the beep as the liftgate of a truck goes up, and you see those thousands of pounds of food going in that truck, we know that that food will eventually land in the bellies of those who really need it the most,” Carpenter said, referring to Route1’s frequent food distribution efforts, where harvests are allocated to food shelves, shelters and nonprofits. “For us, that’s been the most rewarding part, knowing that people are being fed by the food we are growing.”
Route1, a social enterprise fiscally sponsored by the Social Good Fund, has been making waves in Minnesota’s agricultural landscape since its founding in 2020. Headquartered in Hamel, Minnesota, Route1 operates two farms: one in Medina spanning 13 acres and another in Loretto covering 16 acres. Their hydroponic Freight Farm at the Medina site yields an impressive 200 pounds of fresh produce per week, year-round — equivalent to the output of 2.5 acres of traditional farmland.
The inspiration for Route1 stemmed from the social justice movement following the murder of George Floyd. Carpenter, a former corporate leader with deep familial ties to agriculture, saw firsthand how food scarcity disproportionately impacted marginalized communities during the height of Covid-19.
“After the murder of George Floyd, I saw the supermarkets that were closed down on the North Side at that time. I saw how food was being delivered to our communities, and I knew that I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. I had to do something. So, Route1 is the fruit of all of that thought that was happening that summer,” he said.
Having split time between Minneapolis and the 140-acre Carpenter Family Farm in Arkansas during the pandemic, he witnessed how large food retailers were leaving Black and brown communities. This, combined with the lack of economic development for business owners of color, led him to create Route1.
The platform supports emerging farmers of color by increasing food access, promoting health equity, creating career opportunities, and providing individuals with the tools to build generational wealth within their communities.
Marcus Carpenter enjoying a day at the farm.Credit: Courtesy of Route1
Carpenter spoke about his agricultural roots: “My great-grandparents launched that farm in 1914, and at one point it was the largest Black-owned farm in northeast Arkansas. Growing up in a farm family, I always knew that connecting with the soil, connecting with the earth, and getting your hands in the dirt was grounding. This helps individuals not only connect with the land and growing food, but it also helps them connect with themselves.”
To date, Route1 has supported over 90 emerging farmers from diverse backgrounds, including Black, Native, Latino, African, Asian, and various immigrant communities. Beyond agriculture, the organization creates job opportunities for youth and community members, reinforcing the idea that they belong in the agricultural space. Over the past four years, Route1 has distributed 70,000 pounds of fresh food to the community, with no plans to slow down.
For Carpenter, the biggest challenge has been prioritizing time to ensure the organization effectively executes its mission. However, the most rewarding aspect remains clear: “Knowing that people are being fed by the food we are growing.”
Education is woven into all aspects of Route1’s programming, ensuring that emerging farmers and community members alike develop the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in agriculture. The organization operates three core programs:
Emerging Farmers Institute — Helps farmers grow their businesses through training and mentorship.
Seeds to Success Youth Academy — Introduces young people to the agricultural sector, planting seeds of interest.
Market Development — Assists farmers in becoming profitable through six distribution channels: community development, employee-supported agriculture programs, corporate dining partnerships, farmers markets, chef collaborations, and direct-to-consumer subscriptions.
Carpenter said these core components increase food access for communities in need, offer greater support for emerging farmers, and help preserve sustainable agricultural practices for future generations. Climate resiliency and stewardship are also at the heart of this mission.
Freight Farm grows food year round, yielding thousands of pounds fresh food. Credit: Courtesy of Route1
Looking ahead, Route1 recently launched a direct-to-consumer subscription service, allowing more individuals to support and enjoy local produce. Additionally, the upcoming Route1 Urban Agriculture & Conservation Micro Campus (UACC) aims to bring community gardening, controlled-environment agriculture, educational initiatives, and climate conservation efforts to the community. The project focuses on revitalizing fallow land to support biodiversity and ecosystem health.
“At the end of the day, you can’t grow good food if you don’t have good soil. This whole demo cover crop area is really about ‘How are we stewarding the earth? What types of plants can we grow that will allow for more nitrogen, more phosphorus in the soil, and an overall better environment for our world?’” Carpenter said.
Route1 has built strong partnerships with 27 community organizations, including educational institutions, corporate sponsors, philanthropic groups, and government agencies at the city, state and federal levels. These collaborations fuel the enterprise’s ability to expand and sustain its mission.
Beyond the organization’s progress, Carpenter said he is most grateful for the individuals and organizations that continue to support Route1 with their time, talent or treasure. This includes volunteering, spreading awareness, joining the team, purchasing produce from Route1’s emerging farmers, or making a donation.
Carpenter closed our discussion with his vision for the future: “Really, what we’re trying to do is recreate the themes of the Black church, the Black barbershop, the Black beauty shop. Think about places that were in our communities at one point that served as a meeting ground to discuss the topics of the day. We want to recreate all of that, but do it around agriculture, good food, and good community.”
For more information, visit www.route1mn.org.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@spokesman-recorder.com.