A story that I wrote about Cleveland’s attempt to consider its post-industrial future on the Wallace Center’s Food System Leadership Network* site. The main point to consider is how farmers market leaders choose to interact with municipalities working on green solutions. If DTC organizers are not at the table, how will their needs be known?
*I strongly recommend that anyone involved in food system work joins the FSLN site.
What is it like to sell to or through a food hub? What are the benefits … and what is not so good? Learn directly from seasoned farmers!
We have assembled farmers representing a wide variety of experiences – different geographies (CA, MT, MI, and MA), different sizes (from 8 to 400 ac.), different products (vegetables, animals, and mixed) … who sell into different kinds of food hubs (non-profit, for profit, growers co-op) asking different services from them (simple transport, sell-through, and selling to the hub).
Each of these farms has different reasons to work with their local food hub. What works for them? What doesn’t work so well? How do they choose what to sell through the hub? We’ve asked these farmers to share their unedited experiences and advice with their fellow farmers across the country who might now be considering a relationship with a food hub.
Learn how they chose to start selling to the hub, why, what the hub demands of them, what they get in return, how they are managing risks, and how their business’ bottom line has been affected.
Considering selling through a hub? Learn from the experience of your peers. Advise farmers? Enrich the service you can provide.
A few years back, a group of market managers and market farmers were formed into a Farmers Market Working Group by the Wallace Center to create some best practices and resources. We worked hard to offer useful tips and pictures that would actually assist market vendors with marketing their products. The resources also include some videos and all are available on the FMC Resource Library.
The Wallace Center is pleased to announce the 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Increasing Farmer Success in Local Food Markets in the U.S. Deep South: Mississippi and Alabama program. The program, supported by a grant from the Walmart Foundation, is working to strengthen the capacities of limited resource and/or historically disadvantaged farmers, farmer groups, and supporting organizations to meet the fresh produce supply needs of local and regional wholesale markets, and to facilitate farmers’ success in accessing new markets by further developing supply chain relationships. The Wallace Center will accomplish this through strategic investments in Mississippi and Alabama including grants, technical assistance, and the development of a learning network to support local and regional food system development in the Deep South.
The Wallace Center will support 5 to 8 grant projects that will serve as pilot initiatives to demonstrate successful value chain models that can be replicated or expanded through future programs. Successful applicants will engage with farmers and buyers; build capacity; develop or expand the production of fruits and/or vegetables; facilitate the sale of those products into identified markets; and chart a course for sustainability of the project.
Grants range from $20,000 to $75,000 will be made over a 12-month period. Technical assistance will also be available to selected grantees.
Applications are due on Sunday, July 1, 2012 by 6 pm EST (5 pm CST), and should be submitted by email to FarmerSuccess@winrock.org. Mailed applications are accepted with prior permission only and must be postmarked by Saturday, June 30.
Guidelines and further program details for the 2012 Request for Applications can be reviewed and download at http://www.wallacecenter.org/farmersuccess. They are also attached to this email.
Conference Call with Q & A:
The Wallace Center will address questions about the Request for Applications during a conference call on Friday, June 8, 2012, 11 am to 12 pm EST (10 to 11 am CST).
To join the conference call, dial 888-858-6182. When prompted enter this access code: 3742126#. After a presentation on the RFA, callers will have the opportunity to ask questions. Questions may be submitted in advance to farmersuccess@winrock.org. An FAQ from the conference call will be posted on http://www.wallacecenter.org/farmersuccess by June 12.
For Additional Information:
If you have further questions, please call (703) 831-3242 or email farmersuccess@winrock.org. Allow 24 hours for a response. Please share this announcement with interested parties.
Helping Public Markets Grow 