Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon A Farm Makes Market Debut

Once Upon a Farm, the organic children’s food company co-founded by actor Jennifer Garner and veteran food executive John Foraker, made its highly anticipated debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, February 7, 2026. The company, recognized for its mission-driven approach and clean-label products, entered the public markets under the ticker symbol OFRM, offering investors a fresh look at the evolving landscape of branded food products during a period of economic uncertainty and shifting consumer values.

The initial public offering (IPO) was priced at $18 per share, right in the middle of the $17 to $19 range set out in the company’s January filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as reported by Inc.. This pricing strategy resulted in a successful raise of nearly $198 million for the Berkeley, California-based company and its investors, including prominent backers like S2G Ventures, Cambridge Companies SPG, and Cavu Consumer Partners. The IPO valued Once Upon a Farm at approximately $724 million, according to the company’s prospectus and coverage by Reuters and The Independent.

Excitement was palpable when Jennifer Garner and her co-founders rang the NYSE opening bell, marking not just a financial milestone but also a symbolic leap for a brand that began just over a decade ago. "It’s wild," Garner told Inc. by phone, reflecting on the journey from a startup to a publicly traded company. CEO John Foraker echoed the significance, saying, "We’ve been talking for a number of years about this idea of, could we be an independent public company?" He described the IPO as the best way to further the company’s mission of driving "systemic improvement in childhood nutrition for a happier, healthier, and more equitable world."

The road to this moment wasn’t without its bumps. Once Upon a Farm initially intended to go public in the fall of 2025, but those plans were derailed by what became the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, as detailed by Inc.. When the IPO window finally opened, pent-up demand and a pipeline of high-profile companies helped set the stage for what analysts expect could be a breakout year for new stock listings. The company’s offering of around 11 million shares, managed by joint lead book-runners Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, was closely watched as a bellwether for investor appetite in the branded food sector amid ongoing economic headwinds.

Once Upon a Farm’s story began in 2015, founded by Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz. Two years later, Jennifer Garner and John Foraker—formerly CEO of Annie’s—joined as co-founders, infusing the company with both star power and deep industry expertise. The brand quickly gained traction among millennial and Gen Z parents, offering an array of products such as cold-pressed pouches, frozen meals, oat bars, and pantry snacks. What sets Once Upon a Farm apart is its unwavering commitment to nutrition, ingredient transparency, and taste. As Garner told Inc., "We want to make everything easier for parents: serving your babies, getting your big kids off to school. We have three pillars. We’re looking for superior nutrition; clean, real ingredients; and it’s got to taste great. If whatever is coming back home uneaten in the lunchbox, that’s not really that helpful."

The company’s product line is notable for what it leaves out—no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients—a move that resonates with today’s health-conscious consumers. This approach also aligns with the Trump administration’s "Make America Healthy Again" movement, which has prompted food companies to rethink their offerings to meet both regulatory scrutiny and evolving consumer expectations, according to Dow Jones & Company. Industry experts cited by Reuters and The Independent agree that the broader shift toward organic and health-focused diets continues to shape buying habits, benefiting brands like Once Upon a Farm that prioritize nutrition and ingredient integrity.

Looking ahead, the company plans to use the proceeds from its IPO to further vertically integrate its supply chain, including contracting with additional farmers to grow produce specifically for Once Upon a Farm. This move is designed to both ensure product quality and manage costs—an increasingly important consideration as the company faces potential trade barriers in Mexico and South America, regions that supply a significant share of its fruit and vegetable ingredients. As noted in its prospectus and reported by Reuters, these trade challenges could result in shortages or higher costs, a reality that has some analysts cautioning about the risks facing consumer brands with global supply chains.

Product innovation remains a central focus for the company. Garner highlighted plans to expand Once Upon a Farm’s offerings in the baby food aisle, including new items in refrigerated coolers. She is particularly enthusiastic about increasing the availability of the company’s baby food bowls and applesauce products that are covered by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This initiative is part of a larger strategy to make nutritious, accessible food available to families from all walks of life.

"We are feeding babies to big kids, and you can expect us to grow into the lunchbox more and more," Garner explained to Inc.. The company’s vision is to support parents at every stage of their children’s development, from the first spoonful to school snacks, all while maintaining the highest standards of nutrition and taste.

Once Upon a Farm’s successful IPO is not just a win for its founders and investors; it also signals renewed investor confidence in the branded food sector. After years of sluggish activity, the IPO market is showing signs of life, with Once Upon a Farm’s debut serving as a harbinger for other high-profile companies waiting in the wings. The company’s journey—from its founding in 2015, through challenges like government shutdowns and global trade tensions, to ringing the opening bell at the NYSE—captures the spirit of resilience and innovation that continues to drive the U.S. food industry forward.

With its public listing, Once Upon a Farm is poised to leverage new resources, expand its mission, and meet the growing demand for healthy, transparent, and convenient food options for children. As parents and investors alike look for brands they can trust, the company’s next chapter promises to be as ambitious and impactful as its journey so far.