Food Banks and Farmers Foodlink Mitch Gruber, Food Access Programs Manager
Mission: To provide hunger relief, eliminate the root causes of hunger, improve health, and promote economic development. 450 member agencies in 10 counties in the Genesee Valley Finger Lakes area. Foodlink
Service Area and Agriculture Apples (Wayne Co) Cabbage,Potato, Onion (Muck soil) Grapes (Finger Lakes wine) Dairy (yogurt empire) Genesee Valley leads NYS in agricultural production $4.7 Billion piece of the economy Approx. 7 million acres of farmland Source: NY State Agriculture and Markets, 2010
Leveraging existing assets and resources Consumer driven Package of programs and services Led by cooperative purchasing, with a focus on produce. Food Bank to Food Hub
Fulfillment center and excess capacity Relationship building: Farmers Market Festival of Food NY Farm Bureau CCE Foodlink and Farmers Background
Farmers like working with Foodlink: Trucks pick up Buy large volume Purchase seconds regardless of shape and size Pay on time Mission driven (this does matter!) Foodlink and Farmers Operations
We build good relationships by being good customers. Symbiotic relationship ensues: Seconds and field runs Donations and gleaning (maybe) Value Added Processing Foodlink and Farmers Relationships
Available to all agencies Farm Stands Curbside Market Healthy Corner Store Initiative Continuation of Fulfillment Center Local Produce Initiatives
Quality control Finding the right producers and products (saying no) Keeping inventory Training staff and agencies to work with produce Challenges
Positive Outcomes Public Health Economic Multiplier Community Building Food Bank Food Hub Food Resource Center