Catalyzing Increased Agricultural Sales through a Common Understanding of Montana's New Food Modernization Law

Feedback from Participants: 

A follow-up survey with 12 questions was developed by AERO staff and shared with the 118 workshop participants via Google Forms can be found here Appendix-D.-Growing-Food-Businesses-Workshop-Evaluation-Follow-Up and an excel spreadsheet of all the responses can be found here: Appendix-D.-Growing-Food-Businesses-Workshop-Follow-Up-Responses. The survey was shared in November, 2016 and follow-up reminders were sent in January and March, 2017 via email. Two questions addressing future workshop locations and “willingness to pay” were added in January due to an uncertainty of funding for future workshops and a significant interested for more workshops expressed to AERO staff.

The follow up surveys assessed the benefits of the workshops, law changes, forum use, and ongoing challenges; a total of 44 follow-up surveys were completed and provided to AERO. The greatest number of responses came from workshop attendees from Arlee, Kalispell and Bozeman and direct market farmers, non-profit representatives and regulatory agencies were most likely to respond. Responses continue to highlight the value of networking and gathering various representatives of the regulating agencies into one place with those attempting to understand and use those new regulations. Responses also emphasized the continued need for additional workshops as the laws are standardized across counties, as questions arise, and as success stories continue to occur and can be used as viable examples for those looking to grow their businesses and food production.

When asked about how the workshop knowledge and training had been used or applied to new business opportunities, or changed business approaches and outcomes, comments included:

• “My neighbors are planning (and did get a start on) a neighborhood market. This workshop helped by giving us the confidence to get started, contacts in our local county health department, and a set of guidelines for inclusion in our market.”

• “We are just slowly nudging the value added idea along. We are gathering materials, ideas, knowledge, trainings, etc. We are confident in the next 3-5 years our farm will offer something value added.” • “Because of the law, the farmers market vendors I work with have been encouraged to create new products (spice blends, soup mixes, etc) with success.”

• “I have a clear understanding of labeling and what I need to add to my labels. Also, that the labeling requirements for the “cottage food law” is in line with what would be needed for wholesale labeling.”

• “I have decided to add jams and jellies for a value added product, also some breads”.

• “Yes, I am generally the first stop for our farmers market vendors when they are considering making a new product. I like to have the general answers before sending them to the county health person”.

• “We haven't acted on any ideas, but it deepened my understanding of the process that would need to be followed to implement such ideas”.

When asked about connecting with other farmers and producers, and applying group knowledge through the forum or other online opportunities, participants noted that challenges included:

• “Too many people trying to do the same thing or recreate programs that are already functioning. Groups not doing adequate market research and not identifying existing programs.”

• “Producers are so busy growing that marketing and communication IS the barrier, the importance of "others" helping to educate the consumers.”

• “Yes, I find it easy to network. The best way is to attend various workshops/meetings and get to know other farmers.”  “I feel like it's fairly easy to network through word of mouth. A challenge is that many of our local producers and buyers do not use the internet or email.”

• “Everyone is very helpful and willing to share information in my experience. Having a sufficient marketing budget is the biggest challenge”.

Attendees were asked what additional resources or opportunities could continue to help them again important knowledge and resources to use the law to their benefit. Answers included:

• “I would love to work with AERO to host workshops in our area. We don't have an extension agent or many experienced farmers so our pool of knowledge/resources is limited. We have put on several workshops for the farmers market vendors on our own with great attendance. The vendors would love to have more!”

• “Business type classes (accounting, bookkeeping, budgeting, marketing), and insurance classes (not all insurance policies cover CSA's, what about the liability of people coming on to the farm etc.)”

• “More on-farm research information availability to small producers.”

• “I really enjoy all educational workshops. I am learning of more livestock ranchers that would increase their production if they had a place to process the animals. Education on no-till organic produce production would be great. Education on dryland produce production would be great”.

• “I would love to spend a day or 2 with someone living the way I envision my business to be. Market farming and running a CSA”.

• “Any type of online, pre-recorded workshops, etc would be helpful for us in Troy. I can always gather the growers for a class on a big screen. They are hungry for knowledge.

• "You need a workshop where the restaurateurs tell the people how to package and fabricate things”.

• “More information on cash flow and startups for farming and ranching”.

• “Regional meet-ups. Perhaps in conjunction with CFAC and the Red Lodge Food Partnership Council so that we are effectively connecting people in appropriate regions”.

• “Marketing and how to get into local stores.”

The last 3 questions of the survey focused on the value of the new law and the value of the workshops. Over 90% of the workshop participants answered that they would recommend the workshop to others.  Figure2 displays the responses on the value of the workshops to increase business opportunities  and Figure-3 displays the survey responses on the value of these types of workshops.

Success Stories, Challenges and Boots-on-the-Ground Testimony  Follow-up interviews with participants to gain their personal stories were scheduled for January through March, 2017. During the final months of the project, AERO staff completed the remaining interviews of workshop attendees to assess and share their successes, challenges, and continued questions as they work to grow their food production and business opportunities in accordance with the state’s new laws. These interviews were shared through AERO’s networks in the form of articles in our quarterly print newsletter, the Sun Times (circulation of 600), as well as on AERO’s social media, blog, e-newsletters, and the MFEI website (Montana Food Law tab on the website).  A document titled: “Success Stories, Challenges and Boots-on-the-Ground Stories”, summarizes the 10 personal interviews from participants and can be found here: Success-Stories_GBF-Workshops_2017. AERO will be provided this document to news outlets, circulated to AERO membership and other non-profit partners. 

The Montana Food Economy Initiative Forum was developed and expanded due to the grant. AERO staff promoted the use of the online forum to growers, producers, and business owners interested in Montana’s Food Modernization Law of 2015. The Forum located on the Montana Food Economy Initiative (http://www.montanafoodeconomy.org) has been monitored and moderated by AERO and shared with addition local partners and groups. The majority of survey respondents had either not been on the Forum or their visits were limited to 1 or 2 times.  

Comments from the survey suggested that the forum is a useful tool, but admitted there were many ways other than the forum to gain feedback of share information with a fellow producer. Staff is continuing to promote the site, and plan other ways of directing questions there so that they can be fully answered by staff, with the assistance of DPHHS staff.

Future Policy Recommendations were created:

• Discussions with the MT Department of Livestock on the need for clearer regulation of its egg laws and rules and for implementation of the USDA Poultry Exemptions the Livestock Department adopted but has not allowed to be implemented should occur before the next Montana Legislative Session. Both of these actions were recommendations coming out of the 2013 study involving the departments of Health, Agriculture and Livestock that have yet to be addressed by the Livestock Department. If the recommendations are implemented, these educational workshops could include information on new requirements. These regulatory clarifications could be a significant driver of food entrepreneurship in Montana.

• As some other states have done, expanding the Food Law provisions to include dried herb mixes and some minimally hazardous products, such as salsas and pickles.

• Consider legislation allowing the sale of pasteurized milk products at farmers' markets under strict compliance with storage and temperature controls, similar to those that allow meat to be sold at farmers markets.