Progress report for FNE23-065
Project Information
The project seeks to measure the social, economic, and environmental impacts of creating and implementing a multi-farm Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program for both farmers and consumers in Buffalo, NY. Given the high rate of food insecurity experienced by residents and challenges faced by urban farmers in Buffalo, the benefit for both groups that could result from collaboration among farmers and a consolidation of their small markets in the region is potentially far-reaching. Under the leadership of Groundwork Market Garden (GMG), and collaboration with Greater Buffalo Urban Growers (GBUG), the project has documented the process of establishing the multi-farm CSA throughout the first year planning period and in it's second year has implemented a pilot program. Initial findings were presented at a small conference in Buffalo. In the remaining two months of the project, GMG will continue consolidating and analyzing all data and finalizing a report.
The project seeks to measure the social, economic, and environmental impacts of creating and implementing a multi-farm CSA for both farmers and consumers. The project has collected data through a two year process of the planning and creation of a multi-farm CSA program in Buffalo, NY. Once completed, the specific questions the project seeks to answer are:
- How has food access and affordability for city of Buffalo residents been impacted as a result of their participation in the multi-farm CSA?
- How has the quality of life and farm profitability for urban farmers been impacted as a result of their participation in the multi-farm CSA?
- Are participating farmers able to implement or expand regenerative/conservation practices on their farms while participating in the multi-farm CSA?
In addition to answering the above questions, the study has recorded all financials associated with creating and piloting a multi-farm CSA, and documented any secondary benefits, opportunities, and limitations that have arise as a result of the project.
In a 2018 policy report for the Truth Commission on Poverty in Western New York, Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) collaborators found that over 13 percent of the population is food insecure, and over 20 percent of children are. The study also found:
- The 2016 poverty rate in Buffalo was 31.2 percent.
- The poverty rate for African-Americans was 32.3 percent while for whites it was only 8.9 percent.
- Deep poverty is even more concentrated in the city. Of households with incomes below $10,000, 48 percent live in Buffalo.
- People in poverty have much higher risks for many diseases, including a 50 percent higher risk of heart disease and 50 percent higher rate of type 2 diabetes.
- Buffalo’s African-American residents are six times more likely than whites to live in a neighborhood without access to a grocery store
These issues are compounded by a lack of policy and funding initiatives that support farmers and the regional food system. This is especially true for Buffalo’s urban farmers. Findings from a 2022 report from the WNY Regional Food System Initiative showed that a growing consolidation in agribusiness regionally has resulted in fewer but larger farms, processors, and retail/food service companies. This consolidation limits opportunity for small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs, both urban and rural. The study also highlighted that in the WNY region:
- Nearly half of all farmers report either zero profitability or highly variable profitability year-to-year. New, small and urban farms are least likely to be profitable
- Less than two in ten report being "very satisfied" with their current markets, while the balance are either not satisfied (25%) or generally satisfied but interested in new or better paying markets (60%)
- The most productive strategy for strengthening existing markets is to consolidate small markets competing for vendors and customers.
- Most small to midsize farmers lack the time or capacity to secure the capital they need to reach a viable scale of operations.
- Operations that are too small or where the farmer is unable to acquire land for expansion struggle with profitability.
These findings demonstrate that residents in Buffalo, NY experience high rates of poverty and food insecurity resulting in poor health outcomes, with impacts felt at far higher rates among the city's Black residents. The recent mass shooting that killed 10 innocent people at Tops grocery store in the underserved East side, further highlighted how a history of racist policies and inequity in Buffalo’s regional food system have resulted in longstanding food insecurity.
Given the high rate of food insecurity experienced by residents and challenges faced by urban farmers, the benefit for both groups that could result from collaboration among farmers and consolidation of their small markets in the region is potentially far-reaching. We propose a 2 year project to document the socioeconomic and environmental impact of creating a multi-farm citywide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Buffalo. Under the leadership of Groundwork Market Garden (GMG), the project has begun to document the process of establishing the multi-farm CSA throughout the first year planning period and pilot program in year two. Data has been and will continue to be collected through surveys to ascertain the experiences of CSA members and farmers before and after participation in the program. Surveys have been designed to assess food access and affordability for members and profitability and quality of life for farmers. The project will also document all financial information associated with the creation and execution of a multi-farm CSA and any secondary benefits, impacts, or limitations that result during the project. We anticipate that the project will result in reduced barriers associated with accessing affordable fresh food options for city residents. Additionally, farmers will gain access to expanded markets, improving profitability of farms and quality of life.
Groundwork Market Garden will collaborate with the Greater Buffalo Urban Growers, a group of agriculture professionals and urban growers, representing hundreds of community gardens and over 20 urban farms, many located in neighborhoods designated by the USDA as "food deserts". The project will use the expertise and established networks of the group for collaboration and outreach throughout the project. GBUG members prioritize implementing a series of best management practices with regard to soil safety, environmental protection, and other safe farming practices. that are outlined in the GBUG Pledge, a document created under the guidance of Cornell Cooperative Extension healthy soil experts and in partnership with the Food Policy Council of Buffalo & Erie County (FPC).
Groundwork Market Garden (GMG) is an urban farm located on 2 acres in the city of Buffalo, NY. Owned and operated by Buffalo natives Mayda Pozantides and Anders Gunnersen since 2015, the farm will be entering its tenth growing season in 2025. With over a decade of experience in organic vegetable production, Mayda has worked previously as a field hand, farm manager, and owner of a small farm operation before farming full-time with GMG. She currently holds a seat on the Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County. Anders works full-time as Chief Financial Officer at Shared Mobility, Inc and part-time for the farm. He worked for 8 years with the USDA as a Plant Protection Technician and earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University at Buffalo. The farm employs two full-time skilled farm hands through the height of the growing season May-October.
GMG produces a variety of vegetables and some small fruit on about a half acre that grossed roughly over $100k through sales at area businesses and restaurants, a contract with Buffalo Public Schools, an on-site farm stand, and through a CSA program. The farm has grown steadily over the past 10 years, increasing CSA membership and improving profitability. In 2018, the farm was certified USDA Organic. GMG operates a no-till, permanent bed system, focusing on soil fertility and health and optimizing growing conditions for crops. The farm currently hosts a 20 week summer CSA program with 80 members, and started a small winter CSA in 2021 with 25 members.
GMG is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Urban Growers (GBUG), a network of and agriculture professionals and growers devoted to improving communication and awareness of best practices and requirements for people who grow and eat foods in Erie County.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
Research
To assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts for both city residents and urban farmers through the creation of a multi-farm CSA in Buffalo, NY, the project will primarily collect pre/post data through the use of surveys that will be implemented at the beginning of the second year ahead of the start of the pilot program and in year two after the completion of the first CSA season.
SURVEYS
Data will be collected and assessed primarily through the use of two surveys, one for city residents and the other for urban farmers. Both surveys will be distributed to residents and farmers that participate in the program and to those who do not, in order to compare the differences in data among the two groups over two years. Both surveys will contain roughly 50 questions and contain a mix of questions that assess participant attitudes and behaviors. Some questions will rate answers on a scale of 1-5 and others will collect long form answers.
By utilizing a 5 point scale, much of the data will be analyzed statistically, using a sequence of mathematical computations to compare treatments and evaluate whether the observed differences are truly a result of the change in practices, or if the differences may be due to chance and natural variation. Numerical values will be assessed to determine the mean, as well as standard deviation and standard error. Long form answers will be collected, analyzed for trends and reported upon with the findings. All analyses will be done with the assistance of our technical advisor and with peer-review.
The study will primarily make use of two surveys:
- Food Accessibility and Affordability Survey
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- Data collected will assess accessibility and affordability among participants through a series of questions including the following topics
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- Where do you get most of your food?
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- Which of the Following Makes it Difficult for You to Eat Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Lean Proteins (like chicken or fish)?
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- What Would Make It Easier For You to Prepare and Cook with Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, and Lean Protein?
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- Purchasing and Consumption Behaviors
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- Participant Demographics including age, gender identity, race/ethnicity, household size and income, education, and zip code
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- Farmer Survey:
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- data collected will assess trends among urban farmers through a series of questions that include the following topics:
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- production practices
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- marketing practices (e.g., products sold, marketing outlets),
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- quality of life and work conditions
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- basic farm characteristics
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- Participant demographics including age, gender identity, race/ethnicity, household size and income, education, and zip code
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Please see the attached surveys in the following section for a complete example of the proposed data that will be collected. We will attempt to make the survey accessible to the city’s sizeable non-native English speaking population by providing translation services/language accommodations.
TREATMENTS:
City Residents (non-members): A sample group of city residents who do not participate in the CSA program will be surveyed using the Food Accessibility and Affordability Survey in years one and two, before and after the implementation of the program.
City Residents (members): All city residents who participate in the CSA program will be surveyed using the Food Accessibility and Affordability Survey in years one and two, before and after the implementation of the program.
Urban Growers (not participating in multi-farm CSA): All urban growers who are members of GBUG will be distributed our Farmer Survey to assess demographic, growing practices, and quality of life among the group in year one of the project.
Urban Growers (participating in multi-farm CSA): All urban growers who are members of GBUG and have participated in the implementation of the multi-farm CSA, will be distributed the same Farmer Survey assessment, after the completion of the CSA program in year two of the project.
FINANCIALS AND OBSERVATIONS
Through diligent record keeping, the study will record all financials associated with creating and piloting a multi-farm CSA which will track data including but not limited to:
- Labor hours
- Program expenses
- Income
- # of shares sold
- # of farm participants
- Crops produced & distributed
The project also has documented, through notes and observation, any secondary benefits, opportunities, and limitations experienced by members and growers as a result of the project.
During the first year of the project, GMG met with farmers and food producers to assess their interest, and their ability to realistically participate, in the proposed project. An initial survey was conducted to get a better understanding of the participating farms, their practices, marketing strategies, and income for the previous growing season. In addition, we hosted four listening and learning sessions, with farmers participating in-person and virtually, to brainstorm different options for how to model the CSA program and how we all collectively wanted to address logistical concerns and profit sharing. After collecting this information, we worked to create a model that serves the needs of farmers and creates a profit sharing model that is fair and equitable, while reducing the administrative burdens associated with managing a CSA program.
The planning phase of our project led to collective learning and increased collaboration on the part of the participating farms. We did run into several challenges, both seen and unforeseen throughout the process. Four urban farms that had initially expressed interest in participating in the project, were forced to close in 2023 due to financial and personal circumstances. In addition, several participating farms expressed that their capacity would be limited due to decreased staffing capacity and other budgetary concerns.
Those realities, though initially discouraging, only further demonstrated the challenges that urban farmers face with regards to profitability and sustainability and the need for collaborative efforts to improve quality of life and financial outcomes for local, small scale producers. We discussed seeking additional funding to try to offset the potential risks associated with participating in a new marketing endeavor and be able to provide producers with a guaranteed profit. Additionally, we determined that starting smaller and still conducting our own CSA programs while building the collaborative model may be more realistic given the current financial and staffing capacities of participating farms.
GMG, with the participation of growers and non-growing collaborators in GBUG, planned for the launch of our pilot program in year two of our project. We collectively created and signed operational agreements, quality and packing standards, and signed participation agreements. We discussed and determined the number of shares, where and when they would be distributed and who would be responsible for each part of the operation.
Early in the second year, the project faced another setback when a member of GBUG suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Not only was this person a beloved member of our farm & food justice community in Buffalo, she was also a major collaborator on this project. Her role was to connect us with a low income housing development, a community with which she was deeply tied to, which was to be the location where we signed-up residents and hosted our CSA distribution. With this connection lost, and the proximity to the upcoming season, we scrambled to adjust our plan and come up with a new one.
Despite this major blow, we were able to continue the launch of our program with some changes. We collaborated with another community member who was able to assist with connection and distribution of shares to families that identified as low-income and or food insecure. Unlike our original plan however, the shares would not be distributed at the same place each week and the families were unable to pay for the shares. We were able to seek additional funding from a community organization to cover the cost of the shares and provide a stipend to our new collaborator.
For 10 weeks from July through September of 2024, GMG delivered 50 shares to various low-income housing projects and community events. The shares provided a weekly variety of crops from 6 participating farms, as well as a small packet of information containing a check list of what crops were included, food storage tips, and recipes. Throughout the length of the CSA program, data was collected on the following:
- labor hours
- program expenses
- income
- # of shares sold
- # of farm participants
- crops produced & distributed (type & amount)
- demographic information relating to both farmers and consumers
- production practices, marketing practices, and quality of life among participating farms
Because our shares were not distributed to the same families each week, it became difficult to collect data on the behaviors and attitudes related to food affordability and accessibility. That said, throughout the remainder of the project, we seek to collect and analyze more information regarding this particular data point, though it may not be through the means originally intended.
This project was developed to assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts for both city residents and urban farmers through the creation of a multi-farm CSA in Buffalo, NY, the project will primarily collect pre/post data through the use of surveys that will be implemented at the beginning of the second year ahead of the start of the pilot program and in year two after the completion of the first CSA season. We had anticipated that the project would result in reduced barriers associated with accessing affordable fresh food options for city residents and that farmers would gain access to expanded markets, improving profitability of farms and quality of life.
Throughout the project, we documented an increased cooperation and collaboration among area farms and worked to create a program model we believe will be most beneficial for all participants, while increasing accessibility and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables for our community members. In year two, we successfully piloted our Collaborative CSA program and were able to provide 50 families each week for 10 weeks with a variety of organically grown produce and recipes at no cost. We were able to collect data that will allow us to assess the effectiveness and impact of our pilot program and refine our methods and operational procedures. The data and information collected through this process will not only provide insight for our local community, but we hope through its dissemination, can provide valuable information for other communities who wish implement similar models. Over the final two months of our project, we will continue to collect and analyze data, as well as disseminate and share our results.
Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
Participation Summary:
Throughout the first year of the project, four listening and learning sessions were hosted at Groundwork Market Garden, to gather information, questions and concerns from farmers that may be interested in participating in a collaborative city-wide CSA program, and to share possible models and profit sharing options. Farmers also filled out basic surveys to get an understanding of their current farm offerings, profits, and interests in participating and to gauge their ability to grow quality produce.
GMG held 9 tabling sessions (3 per month) in February, March and April of 2024, to engage community members and educate them about our collaborative CSA offering and collect data on behaviors and attitudes regarding food accessibility and affordability.
After the pilot program concluded, on October 29 2024, GMG participated in a symposium entitled "Planning for Equitable Urban Agriculture
Opportunities, Challenges, and Possibilities [in Buffalo]" hosted by the University of Buffalo's Food Lab. GMG was able to present and share initial findings related to the project.
GMG is currently in the process of finalizing the analysis of all data collected and creating a report to be disseminated among a variety of channels, including through the University of Buffalo Food Lab's extensive network of food systems professionals and students, as well as through Cornell Cooperative Extension's urban agriculture newsletter, and will send the report to Cornell Small Farms, local farming collectives including GBUG and the Good Farmers Guild. GMG also plans to host a presentation among participating and non-participating local farms to share the final results.
Learning Outcomes
In 2023, our network of urban farmers and food producers, which includes over 20 urban farms and 100 community gardens, attended a series of four listening sessions over the to learn about the potential benefits of participating in a collective CSA. In 2024, 6 farms and 5 community partner organizations participated in our Collaborative CSA pilot program. Participating farmers reported gaining awareness and knowledge of different cooperative models, profit sharing and coordinating collaborative efforts. Initial analysis of data also suggests that farmers were able to increase sales as a result of participation. In addition to increased sales, some farmers reported an increased job satisfaction as a result of participation.