Chris Frazer is the founder and CEO of Now Organic Farms, a venture he launched with one simple mission: to provide better access to locally grown foods. Initially, Frazer and his team set out to grow their own produce but they quickly learned that they could have a more significant impact on their community and the environment by focusing on the most important ingredient for a fertile farm: soil.
When Frazer started Now Organic Farms he was shocked to find out just how much organic waste ends up in landfills when it could be composted and used to enrich soil instead. So, Frazer and his team pivoted the focus from growing their own fruits and vegetables to using organic waste to create and sell nutrient-rich compost, a healthier, more sustainable, and more efficient, soil fertilizer. Out of every compost purchase, 15% goes towards supporting the creation of local community gardens. “We’ve put healthy soil at the centre of our business model because of how vital it is to creating a sustainable and vibrant food system. So far, we have rescued over 100,000 pounds of organic waste from rotting away uselessly in our landfill and we’re just getting started,” notes Frazer.
In fact, Frazer’s business is growing so quickly that finding land large enough to support his expanding operations has been one of the most significant challenges to date. “So far, I’ve moved twice. I’m on my third location right now and I’m having to move again in a short while just because the capacity [of my current location] can’t [keep up with] my operation,” he says. Eager to find the support necessary to overcome the hurdles he was facing in his growing business, Frazer took a grant-writing course hosted by Ryan Knight, of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), where he was introduced to the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program. RAISE is a provincially-funded, comprehensive grant initiative that supports Indigenous, Black, and other racialized entrepreneurs in Ontario who are on the road to starting or scaling their businesses. In addition to grant funding, the program provides entrepreneurs with access to business development training, business coaching, and culturally responsive support services through the Parkdale Centre for Innovation’s Early Stage Entrepreneur Program.
Frazer’s grant-writing course paid off, and he was accepted into the RAISE program where he learned about the importance of thinking ahead. “My biggest takeaway was that I have to consider potential challenges and […] come up with strategies to overcome those challenges before they […] hinder me from moving forward,” remarks Frazer. One of the key areas Frazer focused on during his time in the program was marketing. He recently launched a new website featuring an animated video designed to clearly communicate. Now Organic’s mission and vision. He’s also working on a second video that documents his Community Garden Program. Frazer says having marketing materials that promote his business’s vision is the biggest success to come out of the program. “It’s very hard to […] explain to people what you want to accomplish, but, when you can show them a video of what you’re hoping to do and show them the time and work that you put into it, it kind of speaks for itself.”
With a strong foundation in place and the growing season about to kick off, Frazer is focusing on further expanding his business. Starting this Spring, Organic Farms compost will be stocked at several gardening retailers. Frazer is also engaging farmers that produce greenhouse crops during the fall and winter to ensure his business has a steady cash flow year-round. In addition, the business continues to tackle ambitious new projects, including the development of a prototype composter that functions more efficiently than the composters that are already available on the market. Frazer is working on this prototype with a Waterloo student and is hoping it will not only speed up his own operation but, more importantly, help in the fight against some of the key environmental issues affecting our world today.
