Local Environmental Agriculture Project

About Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP)

Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP) is a 501c3 non-profit based in Roanoke City. LEAP nurtures our food community to create an equitable food and farming system which prioritizes health and abundance. We do this by supporting community initiatives, markets, farms, and farmers.

LEAP values: 

• Equity: We believe that all people should have affordable access to the food that feeds them and their families. We believe that farmers and food producers should be able to have viable businesses.
• Dignity: We value and honor all people. We work to see, hear, listen, and understand the food community at all levels.
• A holistic approach: Our region's people, animals, and environment have wide-ranging and different needs. We seek to understand this complexity and support systems which focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• The benefits of local food: We are rooted in trusting relationships with community members, businesses, organizations, and governments to collectively support our food community. 
• Love: We serve our community with passion, love, and humility. 

LEAP’s work

We are a service organization centered in the Roanoke region. We are committed to listening and responding to the ever-changing needs, challenges, and opportunities of our food community. Our approach recognizes individual and community dignity. LEAP works collaboratively with community partners, farmers, food producers, and consumers throughout Roanoke City, the Roanoke Valley, and the state. 

LEAP’s local program team works to create economically viable market outlets for local farmers and food producers and to connect consumers efficiently and equitably to local food (current programs include LEAP Farm Share, West End Farmers Market, Grandin Village Farmers Market, LEAP Kitchen, LEAP Mobile Market, Community Gardens, Healthy Food Incentives). LEAP’s regional and state teams work closely with partners to build networks, provide technical assistance, and create strong relationships to support more resilient local, regional, and state food systems (current programs include Regional Food System Planning, Farm to School, Community Garden Network, Virginia Fresh Match statewide SNAP nutrition incentives). For more information, please visit www.leapforlocalfood.org and www.VirginiaFreshMatch.org.