Farm to Congregation Partnerships

How can we access locally grown food? Farmers’ markets Grocery stores Restaurants Farm stands/U-Pick CSAs Buying clubs

Types of Partnerships Farm Stands Community Supported Agriculture Buying Club

Farm Stands Farmer sells goods in a faith community setting. Generally before or after the service.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Participants pay an upfront cost for a weekly delivery of produce. Faith Communities can serve as a weekly drop off site for produce.

Fresh Food For All Raise money to purchase a CSA for a family who can not afford one. Buy leftover produce from the farm stand and donate it to a food pantry, community meal or cooking class. Donate unclaimed shares to a program serving low-income populations.

Fresh Food For All Use a coupon model and provide donated coupons to low-income families FPC Farmers’ table: Her Family farmers Interfaith Food & Farms Partnership First Presbyterian Church, Portland Coupons for fresh, local food

Start Up Ensure there is enough interest in the congregation Designate a point person and volunteers Recruit farmer Logistics MOU Advertise

Ongoing Tasks Education Tracking Special Events

Challenges Language Barriers and Cultural Differences Sufficient Support Scheduling Being Welcoming Unsold Produce

What is a buying club?

How to Start a Buying Club Gather your group Decide what you want Find a grower Start deliveries Adjust as necessary!

La Fresa Feliz: A Partnership between EMO, Deep Roots Farm, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church

DEEP ROOTS FARMPrice per unitQuantityTotal Cucumbers.50 each Onions.75 each Basil$1.55/bunch Tomatoes$1.55/lb Roma tomatoes$1.25/lb Zucchini (green or yellow- specify).50 each Green or Red Bell Peppers (specify).75 each Cantalope$2.00 each Watermelon (red or yellow, weather dependent) $3.50 each Sungold or cherry tomatoes $2.50/pint $14/6 pints $22/12 pints Poblano Peppers.40 each Black Kale$1.50/ bunch Chard$1.50/bunch Butternut squash$1.50 each Total

A week in the life of La Fresa Feliz Tuesday: deposits and check requests from previous week, order entry Wednesday: order entry, collation, order placed Thursday: prepare next week’s order forms, write bulletin and pulpit announcements, get keys and supplies, prepare orders and staff the distribution Friday or Saturday: next week’s availability

12 weeks Thursdays, 6-6:45 p.m. 15 members Avg. 6 orders/wk $900 total orders 13% EBT/Senior 2009

Benefits Convenient Access to fresh, local food. Greater understanding of the challenges that farmers face. Opportunity to try new foods. Community building. Opportunity to learn about another culture. New marketing opportunity for farmers. Increasing access to healthy food for all.

Farm Stands CSAsBuying Club Convenient for farmer?Yes Profitable for farmer?Yes Customer choice?Yes Wholesale price?NoYes Farmer interaction?Yes Customer pays in advance?NoYes Easy to organize?Yes Customer tries new foods?Yes Comparison of Different Models

Evaluation Important to evaluate the success of your program each year Ongoing tracking Surveys or interviews

Questions?

Farm to Congregation Partnerships