News

b.good partners with local farmers for a good cause

June 30, 2016

b.good is developing its own urban farm and states it is the first fast casual restaurant to undertake such an initiative.

"Over the last 12 years at b.good, we've learned real food has the power to positively transform communities. And we've learned that we want to be a company that helps inspire that change in the communities we serve," Jon Olinto, b.good co-founder and chief marketing officer, said in a release.

"This farm is the opportunity to combine our core values of real food, community participation, and philanthropy. We're creating a farm to grow our own produce, work alongside our customers and team members, and give back to the community that supported us all these years," Olinto explained.

The produce will be used by the 31 b.good U.S. restaurants and shared with local community partners, according to the release. In partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, b.good will lead a two-year pilot program to revitalize farm space that will benefit Camp Harbor View, a day camp on the island that serves at-risk youth. The first crops will be harvested in late July 2016.

"Jon and his team at b.good are the real thing," said Jack Connors, co-founder and chairman of Camp Harbor View. "They really care about the quality of the food they offer and they have always insisted on doing good in the communities they serve. These folks are going to make the city very proud."

According to the release, 75 percent of all crop yield will be donated to Camp Harbor View under the pilot license agreement until the start of November 2017. With a significant investment from b.good, the existing farm will be renamed "Hannah Farm" and will be renovated and maintained by the company with the help of Green City Growers. Initial yield estimates predict more than 80,000 pounds of produce will be farmed using organic practices during each full harvesting season. Hannah Farm will grow produce for all of b.good's restaurant locations.