Low Income Latino Producer to Consumer Connection
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Transcript of Low Income Latino Producer to Consumer Connection
Low Income Latino Producer to Consumer Connection
Anne Morse, Adelante Mujeres
Stacey Sobell, M.P.H.,Ecotrust and National Farm to School Network
Scott Ellis, Portland State University
Project Overview • Main Objectives:
• Empowering Low-Income Latino Farmers to Build Regional Connections, Evaluate Farming Strategies, and Identify Clients
• Assess producer/consumer relationships among low-income and Latino farmers and low-income consumers
• Build cultural competency of partners• Identify actions to promote food security and health
among low-income producers and consumers of color
• Funding Streams:• Northwest Health Foundation research grant• Community Food Project planning grant
Partner RolesAdelante Mujeres
• Lead organization• Collaborated with partner organizations on community-based research • Primary contact with low-income Latino community
Ecotrust
• Facilitated connections between farmers and potential buyers via the online tool FoodHub (www.food-hub.org),
• Acted as a liaison with farm to school programming• Helped share the story of our work
Portland State University • Provided research and evaluation support : focus groups, surveys,
analysis• Assisted with development of promotional materials: website, recipes,
etc.
ActivitiesAdelante:Shared production and distribution barriers identified through direct experience working with Latino farmers
Activities Adelante:
Worked with farmers and collaborating partners to identify marketing opportunities
Activities Adelante:
One-on-one evaluations with participant farmers for the 2011 season
ActivitiesEcotrust:• Increase cultural
competency ofpartners
ActivitiesEcotrust:
• Explore models for increasing social equity on FoodHub
www.food-hub.org
ActivitiesEcotrust:
• Explore opportunities to access regional markets via FoodHub
ActivitiesStacey:
• Help connect farmers with potential buyers– Local school districts– Head Start, childcare– Other institutions (e.g., Intel)
ActivitiesEcotrust:
• Share the story of our work in the community
Activities
- Connected farmers with a local undergraduate sustainability class
- Analysis of consumer behavior data through the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) evaluation
- Presented potential marketing strategies from data analysis results
PSU:- Assessed production and networking barriers
- Provided networking research, promotional support, and assistance in analyzing consumer behavior
Challenges
Adelante:• Farmers face many marketing challenges
• Adelante Agricultura Program– Assisting the farmers in finding
markets – How to provide marketing and
distribution support that empowers the farmer
• Forest Grove Farmers Market– How to boost attendance at the
market
ChallengesEcotrust:
• Challenges with FoodHub:– Need to be English-speaking and have
computer access/literacy– Having an online liaison might not be
sustainable in the long-term• Challenges with Farm to Institution:
– Unpredictable yields from farmers– K-12 schools need regular sizing, amounts,
delivery and have tight budgets– Takes time to develop new relationships
ChallengesPSU:
• Working with undergraduate students:– Difficult to facilitate direct interaction with farmers
• Pilot Freshman research project:– Lack of research experience – Educational level and level of work expected to be
produced
• Challenges working with the farmers:– Difficulty coordinating farmer schedules– Strong voices that drowned out the opinions of
others
Recommendations
Adelante:• Right crop/right time
• Finding the right scale for new businesses that can’t tolerate a lot of risk
• Think about a variety of marketing opportunities that can also target low income consumers
• Start incrementally. Relationships take time to build and require dedication and consistency
• Consistent communication with the farmers will help to empower them in the development of their small businesses
Recommendations
Ecotrust:
• Strong community partner connections, “benevolent brokers”
• Web liaison for farmers/cooperative selling model
• Highlight social equity characteristics to set apart from other sellers
• Build on small successes
Recommendations
PSU:
• Develop relationships with academic institutions to assist with evaluation and analysis• E.g., possible senior capstone project
• Community-based participatory research as a strategy
• Using GIS for analysis
Breakout Session
Activity:In small groups use worksheets to strategize around how to do the following in your own communities:
1. Identify market challenges for underserved producers
2. Connect underserved producers and consumers
3. Create your own action plan to increase: a. Access to diverse markets for underserved
producersb. Food security and health among underserved
consumers
Thank you!Contact information
Anne Morse:[email protected] | 503-992-2041
www.adelantemujeres.org
Stacey Sobell:[email protected] | 503-467-0751
www.ecotrust.org/farmtoschool/
Scott Ellis:[email protected]