Progress report for EDS22-43
Project Information
Among the Gullah and other Black farmers, as well as other limited resource farmers in South Carolina and Georgia, the historical lack of access to agricultural resources and support has created a significant gulf between the skilled production of these limited resource farmers, the number of certified (Organic and GAP) farmers, and the delivery of high quality product to wholesale packing, processing and distribution facilities. On these under-resourced small farms, planning, production and harvesting systems do not maximize efficiency and fully achieve ecological sustainability. These incredibly skilled farmers cannot produce properly sorted and graded harvests, they are challenged to maintain quality, and they are unable to match production with wholesale market demand (including organic).
The Gullah Farmers Cooperative (“the Coop”) has successfully launched a 10,000 sq. ft. Packing and Processing Facility on St. Helena Island, SC, which is owned by Black, limited resource farmers. The Coop was established to provide essential services for limited resource farmers to penetrate the highly competitive wholesale market in this region, and to be able to achieve the profitability and sustainability that will uphold the future of sustainable agriculture in Black farming communities.
The Coop recognizes that talented farmers must have efficient post harvest systems and meet high quality standards to compete in wholesale markets, The Coop’s proposed Wholesale Market Success Program is designed to ensure that limited resource farmers have the education, know-how, and practices in place to be competitive in wholesale markets, to achieve profitability, and to prioritize sustainable agricultural practices. By successfully earning a share of this market channel, small Black farms will gain market success and increase equitable opportunities for Black farmers. Program participants are not required to be Cooperative Members or to utilize Cooperative packing, processing and sales services in order to participate, although these services will be made available to all farmers in the program.
Through this project, limited resource farmers will secure greater access to wholesale markets and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. At a minimum, the project will achieve an increase of $250,000 in new/expanded wholesale market sales for farmers and establish 25 new/expanded wholesale sales relationships for farmers. It will achieve these goal by tailoring trainings to specific on-farm assessments for harvest/post harvest systems (efficiency and quality of product), lead 4 on-farm workshops and 4 hands-on crop planning sessions, and provide training materials to support 100+ coaching and feedback sessions for farmers. The Coop’s wholesale success educator will support at least 40 capacity-building registrations/certifications/grant applications submitted for farmers as they seek to access resources that increase competitiveness (Organic and harmonized GAP certification, South Carolina grown licensing, FSMA waivers, etc.). Additionally, educational materials that are specific to wholesale readiness for small farms in the South, and adapted to meet the needs of these Black farmers, will be created and disseminated.
Through these strategies, the Coop will ensure that limited resource farmers in the coastal South, who are highly skilled producers, are successful as high quality wholesale producers.
- For limited resource producers, gather, review and analyze at least 15 on-farm harvest and post harvest efficiency assessments and performance plans to increase the delivery of high-quality produce to packing, processing and distribution outlets for wholesale markets.
- Provide four educational training workshops to support the implementation of harvest/post harvest performance plans, resulting in the delivery of high-quality produce to packing, processing and distribution outlets for wholesale markets and the increase of GAP and Organic Certifications.
- Gather, review and analyze coaching and feedback sessions to provide critical workshop and group consultations for 1-00+ farmer participants, supporting farmers as they implement harvest/post harvest performance plans that result in organic and GAP certification and the delivery of high-quality produce to packing, processing and distribution outlets for wholesale markets.
- Disseminate educational materials re wholesale markets regarding resources, and support 40+ certifications, registrations, designations and grant applications to be completed by limited resource farmers to maximize on-farm resources and wholesale competitiveness (including renewal/application for harmonized GAP certification, organic certification, South Carolina or Georgia Grown licensing agreements, FSMA waivers, and reimbursement applications for GAP certification, water testing, cold storage, and packaging supplies.)
- Ensure that 25 new or significantly expanded wholesale sales relationships are secured, demonstrated by at least $250,000 in new/expanded wholesale sales dollars earned by farmers over the 12 month grant period.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
- - Technical Advisor
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
- # of Wholesale Quality Coaching & Feedback Consultations
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- # written 31
- # in person 42
- # on phone 41
- # of farmers who received consultations? 31
- What are the primary themes that come up in these consultations? Quality specifications, labor shortages, and cold chain issues.
- How do these consultations help farmers increase wholesale readiness? These consultations give an opportunity to provide feedback to farmers helping them adapt the post harvest process and give more attention to detail when inspecting produce for quality and following the provided guidelines and specifications.
- # of other Wholesale Coaching & Feedback Consultations
- # written 31
- # in person 42
- # on phone 41
- # of farmers who received consultations? 31
- What are the primary topics that come up in these consultations? Capacity and labor shortages
- How do these consultations help farmers increase wholesale readiness? The consultations allow the farm to provide the farmers with advice and guidance for their pre and post harvest systems to help improve efficiency in their wholesale operation.
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- Any Curriculum, Fact Sheets or Educational Tools created?
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- # of items and titles Quality and Specs guide for Fall 2022
- Include copies in the report folder
- Wholesale Readiness activities supported (certifications, registrations, designations and grant applications to be completed by limited resource farmers to maximize on-farm resources and wholesale competitiveness (including renewal/application for harmonized GAP certification, organic certification, South Carolina or Georgia Grown licensing agreements, FSMA waivers, and reimbursement applications for GAP certification, water testing, cold storage, and packaging supplies.)
- # of activities, and what are the types of activities that have been completed? GAP and Food Safety educational workshop and New Farmer assessment, water testings, GAP Certification, Cold Storage, and EQIP renewal.
- Can you share a few sentences about one or two farmers who have had assistance and how it has impacted wholesale sales. One of our farmers located in Cope, SC, 96 miles away from the Packing House, lacks the presence of cool storage on his farm. The Cooperative lended a refrigerated trailer to the farmer in order to aid in maintaining the cold chain during transportation. Without the assistance of cold storage, the quality of the farmers products would have been poorly impacted before reaching the Cooperative which is cause for rejection and loss in sales.
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- Assessments & Performance Plans (Other Educational Activities)
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- # of farmers who completed on-farm assessments and “performance” plans to ready them for wholesale sales. (#1) 13 farmers have completed the new farmer assessments. Performance plans have been created for two of our current farmers in reference to creating an onsite quality control program and strategizing ways to provide more assistance with harvesting to improve quality and remain competitive.
- What have you learned from farmers about their wholesale readiness and the activities they need to complete to be ready to increase wholesale sales? Socially disadvantaged farmers have difficulty accessing the resources necessary to compete in the wholesale market. Many of them lack the ability and capacity to operate at a level that will allow them to compete in the whole sale market. Most farmers lack the presence of necessary equipment to keep the cold chain intact on their farm when providing produce for the cooperative. Almost all farmers need assistance with receiving cold storage. Although there is a policy in place that inhibits us from assisting non GAP certified farmers with acquiring cold storage equipment.
- Educational Training Workshops that increase GAP, organic and other wholesale readiness outcomes (Workshops/Field days)
- What are dates and topics of workshops completed during this time frame? GAP certification and Food Safety Workshop Feb 9, 2023
- What activities were completed (include any on farm demonstrations, tours, training sessions), and what was your impression of farmer concerns, learnings, readiness for wholesale sales? The farmers were informed about necessary SOPs to remain in compliance with GAP standards. The food safety plan was discussed and is being worked on with each individual farmer and tailored to their specific operation.
- # of farmers who attended? 13
- # of collaborative partners engaged? 4
- # of collaborative partnerships that are new for the Cooperative? 2
- # of farmers who reported a change in their knowledge, attitude, skills or awareness (pre/post tests) 13
- # of farmers who reported that they are using or will use a new practice or change their practices. 13
- Include workshop flyer, sign in sheet, agenda and pictures in the report folder.
- Crop Planning Workshops that increase wholesale readiness outcomes (Workshops/Field days)
- What are the dates and topics of workshops completed during this time frame? At this time, a formal workshop hasn't yet taken place. Farmers already enrolled in the sales network have been worked with individually for crop planning sessions.
- What activities were completed (include any on farm demonstrations, tours, training sessions), and what was your impression of farmer concerns, learnings, readiness for wholesale sales? Farmers wanted to know which specific commodities would be the most profitable and least labor intensive in order to meet the demand of buyers.
- # of farmers who attended? 2
- # of collaborative partners engaged? 0
- # of collaborative partnerships that are new for the Cooperative? 0
- # of farmers who reported a change in their knowledge, attitude, skills or awareness (pre/post tests) 0
- Include workshop flyer, sign in sheet, agenda and pictures in the report folder. Instead of a crop planning workshop the current Farm Network Manager was instructed to host individual sessions with farmers who were already a part of the sales network. The crop planning workshop was designed based on the integration of newly GAP certified farmers. There weren’t any new farmers that completed a GAP audit at this time.
# of new wholesale sales relationships - ie how many farmers have a new wholesale customer through the Coop? 1