About Us
Our Story
Neighborhood Farms USA® (NFUSA) was formed to address the need for nutritional education across all walks of American life and to promote and facilitate access to fresh food, especially in low-income communities. The idea is the brainchild of Yaffa Popack, a South Florida entrepreneur who discovered that her health problems as a teenager were the result of the food choices she had available as a child.
As a young mother, she developed her awareness and strategies to care for her family’s health through good nutrition and to teach her children about the value of fresh, wholesome food, particularly fruits and vegetables. In 2002 she became a certified Holistic Health Counselor and since, counsels individuals and families on paths to optimal health.
Yaffa co-founded Neighborhood Farms USA ® with her husband Moshe with the vision to establish a national network that connects neighborhood gardens to shared resources: advice, planning, opportunities, and best practices, to educate children and young families about the relationship between nutrient-rich food and living healthier lives.
Our Mission
It is the mission of Neighborhood Farms USA™ to build a national network that promotes health, wellness, and nutritional education through the development of community gardens, healthy food programs, and shared best practices. Neighborhood Farms USA ™ is a national 501(c)(3) organization which promote nutrition engagement for communities, one neighborhood at a time.
Meet the Leadership
YAFFA POPACK | Co-Founder
“Every child should have the opportunity to see — to know — what real food can do for them.”
Yaffa Popack is a graduate of Columbia University and Benjamin Cardozo Law School in New York, a community activist, and the co-founder with her husband Moshe in YMP Real Estate Management, LLC. She is also a mother who is passionate about education, good nutrition, and making healthy food accessible to everyone.
MOSHE POPACK | Co-Founder
“There is a growing need to build a national network of nutritional awareness through community engagement at the neighborhood level. That’s our goal with Neighborhood Farms USA.”
Moshe Popack is the co-founder and Chairman of YMP Real Estate Management LLC, a company that owns and manages multifamily apartment units, office space, and assisted living facilities. In 2021, Moshe was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the board of directors of the Florida Development Finance Corporation. He also serves on the board of the Florida Assisted Living Association and as a member of the South Florida Business Journal Leadership Trust and the Young Presidents’ Organization. He actively promotes meaningful engagement on other issues such as mental health, education, and workforce housing.
THAIS THIESEN | Co-Director
Thais brings over 20 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and project management. She has designed, built and managed community-scale and educational farming projects that integrate food production, hands-on learning and ecological stewardship. Thais holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Florida International University and specializes in developing practical, regenerative systems that reconnect people to food, land and community.
Our Founding Partners
Join Our Growing Community
Are you passionate about healthy eating, community engagement, and gardening? Look no further! Designed to bring the joys of gardening and healthy living to individuals across the country.