Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Littere.
Hi Dave, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We – me and my wife – began growing our own food in 2020. During COVID, we were able to grow more food for restaurants and customers at the farmers markets. The transition to food waste collection came around 2022 when I began collecting food scraps for free at the markets to make my own compost for the food I was growing. That turned into a contract, which led to more community interest, more contracts, more collection signups, etc. We currently collect food waste from 16 farmers markets every week, over 300 residents, and around 10 offices/religious facilities in the Northern Virginia region.
The reason we use insects (the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly) is because we see it as the only high-throughput, scalable composting infrastructure suitable for urban environments, All we have to do is make mini insect hotels, we call them the Mobile Compost Commands. Then, the BSFL do what they do naturally when we feed them food waste – the devour it all and turn it into a sustainably-grown source of protein and leave behind a natural bio-fertilizer called frass.
Incorporating this system into Fairfax County and the broader Northern Virginia region will ensure the food waste being collected in the DC Metro area has a place to be processed efficiently and reliably.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We are the first company to pursue this concept in America… or at least to get this far with it. Because we started first as a “compost collection” company, we were able to understand the logistics behind food waste before jumping right into processing.
This road hasn’t been easy because we have no go-to business plans or role models to pursue. Most successful BSFL companies either don’t take food waste and sell their BSFL for top dollar or are subsidized by their country’s governments to perform this work. Starting this as a private venture has been challenging.
Luckily, I receive a lot of support from community members, local government offices, and some stakeholders who are in the regenerative ag./climate change space and truly see the value in the system.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Future Acres Urban Farming is a food waste collection and composting company based in Burke, Virginia, serving households, businesses, and farmers markets throughout the DMV area. But we’re more than a pickup service — we’re pioneering a full-circle local food system built around one of nature’s most efficient composters: Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL).
What we do is simple in concept but innovative in practice. We collect food scraps from our subscribers and process them right here in Fairfax County using climate-controlled composting systems. The larvae convert that waste into two valuable products: nutrient-rich frass fertilizer for home gardens and high-protein BSFL for livestock and pets. We call it “table to farm” — your kitchen waste doesn’t leave the region. It becomes something your garden or animals can use.
What sets us apart is that vertical integration. Most composting services haul waste out of the community and that’s the end of the story. We close the loop locally, turning a liability into a resource without shipping it hundreds of miles away. We’re also the only operator in the area running a Mobile Compost Command unit — a portable, scalable BSFL processing system that we’re now consulting on for municipalities and other businesses who want to replicate the model.
We’re most proud of the fact that this isn’t just a business — it’s a demonstration. We sit on urban farming policy boards, partner with local nurseries and farmers markets, and actively share what we’re learning so others can build similar systems. We want to set the benchmark for what community-scale organic recycling looks like in Northern Virginia.
Whether you’re a homeowner who wants an easy weekly pickup, a commercial kitchen looking for a sustainable waste solution, or a gardener who wants the best fertilizer you can find, Future Acres was built for you. We’re growing fast, and we’d love for our readers to be part of what we’re building.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Fairfax County is the community’s genuine commitment to sustainability. Our residents are educated, engaged, and aware of their environmental impact; that mindset makes this the perfect place to build Future Acres. We’ve been welcomed at farmers markets, supported through programs and grants, and connected with partners who share our vision.
What I’d like to see more of is a streamlined path for small agricultural and composting operations to get permitted and scaled. The regulatory landscape is complex for a business that sits at the intersection of waste hauling, urban farming, and product manufacturing. Fairfax has the opportunity to become a true model for other jurisdictions — the resident demand is clearly there, the infrastructure just needs to catch up.
Pricing:
- $32/month for weekly food scraps (residential)
- $20/week for a full bin of food waste collection (commercial)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.futureacresfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futureacresfarm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenplanetfarms
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-acres-urban-farming/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@futureacresurbanfarming
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-littere-a23791286/
