Episode Details

In this episode of The Edible Activist, Melissa sits down with JR, founder and CEO of EightFold Farms DC, a network of hyperlocal urban farms transforming rooftops, lawns, and underused spaces in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8. Frustrated by limited access to healthy food and inspired by global urban agriculture models, JR set out to reengineer the local food chain—starting with mushrooms. Tune in as JR shares how EightFold Farms is tackling food apartheid, building climate-smart farming solutions, and proving that urban agriculture can be both socially impactful and economically viable. From custom-designed farm units for chefs to the art and science of growing mushrooms, this conversation dives deep into what a smarter, faster, and more just food system can look like.