GoFarm + CoolBot: Helping Small Farmers Bring Locally Grown Produce to Underserved Communities 

GoFarm — a nonprofit organization based in Golden, Colorado — has been instrumental in connecting farmers with best practices and ensuring that fresh, local food reaches underserved communities. They train and support both experienced and aspiring farmers and increase equitable access to locally grown, nutrient-rich food. At the heart of their operations is Sarah Berger, the Value Chain Coordinator, who manages food storage and distribution for GoFarm’s various programs, including their community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares and mobile markets. Key to GoFarm’s success is their use of CoolBot technology, which has transformed how they store and distribute food.

Sarah’s journey to GoFarm began with a shift in career aspirations. Originally working as a loan officer, she realized during the COVID-19 pandemic that her passion lay in food and farming. 

Sarah “always had a passion for food,” so she thought, why not make this transition now? She took a farm planning course through GoFarm’s farmer development program, and after completing that, she ended up working on five different farms through their internship program. During this time, Sarah also got pregnant. “So I thought that maybe this was not the best time in my life for a farming venture,” she laughs. “Raising a newborn and navigating through farming challenges wasn’t tooting my horn.”

So Sarah transitioned to a more (full-time) logistics-focused role with GoFarm: managing food distribution across various locations throughout Colorado’s Front Range region.

“I wear many hats, but my main hat is communicating with farmers,” Sarah tells us. And since she “was enrolled in the farmer development program,” Sarah is well versed in understanding and anticipating their needs and wants. Sarah does purchasing for GoFarm’s Local Food Share program which is a seasonal subscription the community can buy into to support and reap the benefits of local farming. GoFarm also has a mobile market, in conjunction with their community food access program, where the team brings locally grown produce to food deserts and underprivileged areas. She also does the purchasing for various pantries and a few organizations with similar missions.

GoFarm’s operations require reliable and efficient cooling solutions to maintain the quality of the fresh produce they source from local farmers. Pre-CoolBot, GoFarm staff would haul numerous coolers to distribution sites, a labor-intensive process involving ice packing and significant spoilage risks. The introduction of CoolBot technology changed the game, enabling GoFarm to utilize shipping containers outfitted with window A/C units converted by CoolBots. These containers now serve as stationary refrigeration units in key locations, vastly improving their cooling infrastructure.

Today, GoFarm operates out of five refurbished shipping containers. The primary CoolBot-equipped containers are in downtown Golden — one dedicated to CSA food storage and the other to market and pantry food. The 3rd and 4th live at the Local Food Share distribution sites in Arvada and South Golden. The fifth container just touched ground in Arvada to serve their farmer incubator program, where new farmers receive guidance and support to grow and market their produce. 

This community-driven approach ensures that new farmers have access to CoolBot technology, allowing them to store their food before it reaches markets or distribution centers.

Sarah and her team have found ways to optimize their CoolBots to accommodate specific temperature requirements for various types of produce, in conjunction with the fluctuating seasons and temperatures outside.

They’ve also installed shelves along the walls of their containers to maximize storage space and facilitate easy access to produce. This system has minimized food spoilage and streamlined distribution, ensuring that fresh food stays in peak condition until it reaches the community via markets or CSA programs.

GoFarm’s mission extends beyond just storing food. By offering usage of their CoolBot-equipped containers to farmers and local businesses, they help ensure that the community has access to cool storage when needed. Fresh-pressed juice vendors, for example, utilize GoFarm’s containers to keep their products fresh, supporting their small business operations.

The organization’s farmer development program also benefits from this infrastructure. New farmers participating in the program are given access to CoolBot technology, which allows them to store their crops while learning how to navigate the agricultural business.

GoFarm operates the Local Food Share program with local farmers during the spring, summer and fall. And their mobile market only operates during the summertime. This means their CoolBot coolers are generally full of rotating produce from early May through Thanksgiving.

GoFarm’s farmer development program hosts about fifteen student farmers, and averages about four new members each year. Outside of the incubator program, GoFarm works with about 40-60 farmers throughout Jefferson County, Greeley, Boulder and the fruit farmers of the Western Slope of Colorado. “It’s a lot, making sure that I’m buying equally from all of my farmers,” Sarah explains. “I need to make sure it’s worth their time.”

As GoFarm grows, so too does their need for innovative solutions. With a new three-acre plot in Arvada and plans to expand their farmer development program, GoFarm will continue to rely on CoolBot technology to meet their cooling needs. Sarah is particularly excited about utilizing the latest CoolBot Pro models with Wi-Fi capabilities, which will allow for even greater control and monitoring of their storage systems.

At GoFarm, every day is a step toward a more sustainable and community-centered food system. Through their partnership with local farmers and their innovative use of CoolBot technology, they are ensuring that fresh, locally grown food is available to everyone.

“Every morning, when I wake up, I’m just so motivated. And that’s worth it in itself. The work we’re doing is so good for the world,” Sarah tells us.

GoFarm’s CoolBot story is a testament to how smart, cost-effective technology can play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable agriculture and community health.

Upcoming Events: GoFarm’s Harvest Dinner

As part of their community engagement efforts, GoFarm is hosting their 10th Annual Harvest Dinner, an event celebrating local food, farmers and the work GoFarm does year-round. This year’s event includes a cocktail hour, leading into a delicious four-course dinner, featuring produce from local farmers. Chef Chris will preserve, pickle, and prepare food from GoFarm’s local farmer partners in many creative ways for guest’s enjoyment. The Harvest Dinner also includes both a silent and live auction.

All proceeds from Harvest Dinner tickets and the auction go back to supporting GoFarm’s critical program, supporting their mission to strengthen the local food system.