4P Foods is a regional food hub based in Warrenton, VA, that delivers food from small and mid-sized family farmers and artisans to markets across Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.

They are a business that cares deeply about supporting sustainable growing practices, paying farmers a fair wage, investing in local communities, and feeding the underserved.

"The businesses of today create the world of tomorrow. They have the ability - and responsibility - to  drive real, lasting, positive social change," says Tom McDougall, 4P Foods’ CEO and founder.

Tom’s idea to create a better food system for all took root in 2014. After witnessing the damages of the existing industrial food system, he set out to create a regenerative, equitable, and accessible option to the industrial food system.

Tom’s first step focused on moving the existing CSA (community-supported agriculture) model into e- commerce and food delivery. In those early days, 4P Foods' entire delivery fleet consisted of a lone Tom McDougall, duking it out on the DC metro, shuffling bags of farm-fresh local produce to 4P Foods’ first customers.

Today, 4P has three ways it connects farmers and eaters:

1. Delivering weekly groceries direct from farmers. Our grocery delivery business has grown, with weekly deliveries direct from farmers to thousands of people in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

2. Providing fresh, local food to businesses. We deliver wholesale produce to retail, restaurants, groceries, markets, and businesses that provide transparent, local, and regenerative food options to their customers. Our existing wholesale distribution reaches Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, and North Carolina.

3. Institutional partnerships to get more local food to school systems. Enriching school and institutional food options with local farm partnerships.

LEAP purchases wholesale food from 4P that is sold on our Mobile Market, in the LEAP Farm Share, and in the LEAP Community Store. Purchasing from regional food hubs allows LEAP to offer regional food despite the seasonal ups and downs of our local farmers. Additionally, LEAP works with 4P to give regionally grown fruits and vegetables free to Roanoke community organizations, funded by a United States Department of Agriculture grant.

Read more about 4P on their website: https://4pfoods.com/