By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media
Area 2 Farms, an Arlington, Virginia-based agtech dedicated to local agriculture, has secured $9 million in its latest funding round. Led by early stage venture capital firm Slow Ventures and tech-focused Seven Seven Six, this round also featured participation from ANIMO Ventures, demonstrating growing investor confidence in localized food production as a viable alternative to traditional models. Proceeds will be direct toward furthering Area 2 Farms’ mission to build local farms in the communities they serve while improving the food supply chain.
Founded by Oren Falkowitz, a former NSA and U.S. Cyber Command technologist, Area 2 Farms’ motto is to “move the farm, not the food.” The company designs, constructs and supports a nationwide network of organic, indoor farms that prioritize soil-based growing methods and an innovative design. Area 2 says it differentiates itself from other vertical farms with its emphasis on nutrient-rich diversity, featuring everything from greens and herbs to root vegetables and microgreens, while fostering economic viability for local farmers.
Consumers are increasingly served produce that has journeyed thousands of miles, losing its peak flavor and important nutrients that are degraded during post-harvest. Area 2 Farms is looking to tackle this disconnect by embedding farming directly into neighborhoods while delivering sustainable, organic, seasonal produce to Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia tables in under 10 miles on average while reducing transportation footprints, strengthening local economies, and preserving up to 30 percent more vitamins through hyper-local harvest-to-plate efficiency
Sam Lessin of backer Slow Ventures noted, “I have wanted to see someone execute on this vision for a long time. The future is decentralized, and while deconstructing a massive, centralized supply chain as the best way to scale seems counterintuitive, it’s just fundamentally right. Farmers are in trouble, and are being eaten up by conglomerates, at the same time it is harder and harder for people to get access to great food.”
A pilot farm in Arlington, Virginia has begun to prove the concept’s potential, delivering over 20,000 harvests to more than 1,000 customers and engaging many students through educational programs. With the latest capital injection, Area 2 plans to expand its farming footprint, investing in advanced technology infrastructure and creating partnerships in real estate, education and food access initiatives, according to Seven Seven Six Founder Alexis Ohanian. Farms are also underway in Fairfax, Virginia, with ambitions to place one within 10 miles of every American household.
Area 2 Farms Founder and CEO Oren Falkowitz stated, “Only 16 cents of every dollar spent on food goes to the farmer. Local agriculture is the key to solving this. Next time you see the word ‘farm’ or ‘farmer’ look around and ask where they are—by bringing farmers back into our communities, you can actually meet him or her, feed families better food and reduce dependence on overstretched supply chains.”
Seven Seven Six Founder Alexis Ohanian, who also co-founded social media platform Reddit, said, “Farms are essential infrastructure — and Area 2 is proving that local food can scale. Bringing farms closer to home isn’t just about freshness — it’s about resilience, access, and building a better food system for everyone.”
For ag investors, this round signals a potential rebound in interest in local farming’s intersection with technology and community impact. The vertical farming challenges are not too far in the rear view mirror of investors, where Wyoming’s Plenty Unlimited emerged from bankruptcy protection earlier this year after securing financing from the SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and One Madison. By embedding farms into neighborhoods, led by local growers who serve customers just miles away, Area 2 shortens the harvest-to-home journey while creating a seemingly equitable model that could yield both social and financial returns in major cities and suburbs throughout the U.S.
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