Mi(crogreens) Oh My(celium) Farms is worker-owned producing 100% organic and microgreens and medicinal mushroom products. Produced locally in The Bronx, our mission is to provide our community with a high-quality product at a low-cost while promoting healthy diets and lifestyles. The Bronx is adversely affected by a shortage of organic produce and healthy alternatives. We envision a renaissance in organic and healthy food alternatives grown locally, powering a local economy that can provide alternative means of buying food and earning an income. As a worker-owned business, every one of our growers earns a living wage, sharing the risks and profits of the business. Supporting worker cooperatives means you are saying no to the exploitation of labor and yes to the empowerment of workers.
Our urban farm located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx has allowed us to launch a successful farm share and CSA program with 25 members/subscribers that is growing every week. We now have four worker-owners and new members are taking part of our six week hydroponic farming training program every month.
Check out this BronXChange feature on Mi Oh My Farms founder, Joel Mejia!
Started by Bronx native, Joél Mejia, in the summer of 2020, numerous information sessions have been held to educate people about becoming a worker-owner and cooperative economics in general, and after successfully vending at JBOL'sfarmer’s market in the north Bronx area, a number of candidates trained to grow hydroponic microgreens, to become worker-owners, connect with the local Bronx food justice community, and spread the benefits of our products.
The worker cooperative is operated by a diverse set of individuals with skills and passion that synchronize with the vision of the company. Started at the founder’s house, we maximized floor space by growing vertically, and thus reducing overhead costs as we build capital. In October of 2021, we moved the farm to the Riverdale section of the Bronx next to Vegan Bodeguita. Currently we are working on opening a vegan deli space in front of the farm where we would sell different types of fresh and organic microgreen products in partnership with Vegan Bodeguita (VB).
All members need to be trained in hydroponics and how to produce our products. Members then decide what aspect of the business they feel most called to, and thus, support that aspect of the business while always maintaining the farming operations that bring in the revenue. One of our real strengths has been keeping our budgets and expenses lean this way.
We are a POC worker-owned cooperative, and are always adding new members as worker-owners or as interns. For more info on worker owned cooperatives, visit nycworker.coop to inform yourself about cooperative economics before completing the form if you are interested in joining the team.