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 will continue to assess the outcomes during the initiation and implementation of a pilot program in year two.
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 is in the process of documenting the 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 will record all financials associated with creating and piloting a multi-farm CSA, and document any secondary benefits, opportunities, and limitations that arise as a result of the project.
During the first year of the project, we met with farmers and food producers to assess interest and ascertain their ability to realistically participate in the project and have worked to create a model that serves the needs of farmers and creates a profit sharing model that is fair and equitable. While good data and information has been gained from the project thus far, there have been several limiting factors that have impacted the potential impact of the project in year one. Though there were many farms that expressed interest in participating in the project ahead of the creation of the project proposal, financial and personal circumstances caused four area urban farms to close in 2023. In addition, several farms that will be participating have expressed that their capacity may be limited due to decreased staffing capacity and other budgetary concerns. These current realities, though initially discouraging, only further demonstrate 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.
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 ninth growing season in 2024. With over 10 seasons 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 $80k 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 9 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, we 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.
Though the planning phase of our project has led to collective learning and increased collaboration on the part of the participating farms, we have 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 farms that are participating have expressed that their capacity may be limited due to decreased staffing capacity and other budgetary concerns.
These current realities, though initially discouraging, only further demonstrate 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 have sought out 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 have 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.
This project was created 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.
We do not yet know what the outcome of the project will be, but we have 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. We still anticipate that these outcomes will be achieved and that the project will have far-reaching benefits for both farmers and consumers once completed. Additionally, we hope that the information gained from the proposed project will not only guide decision making and planning for how to improve the CSA program beyond the pilot year, and opportunities to seek out additional funding to ensure the project's success in the future.
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.
We have also planned a 6 tabling sessions (2 per month) in February, March and April, at events hosted by partner organizations, to engage community members and educate them about our collaborative CSA offering and how the can become a member. We will also use these events to collect data from community members and their current ability to access and afford fresh fruits and vegetables.
We have consulted with local refugee service agencies to determine the top languages spoken in the target area and will create documents that are translated to different languages to educational materials and surveys are available to residents whose first language is one other than English.
Learning Outcomes
Over the past year, 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 2023 season to learn about the potential benefits of participating in a collective CSA. Participating farmers reported gaining awareness and knowledge of different cooperative models, profit sharing and coordinating collaborative efforts.