Final Report for FW03-105
Project Information
The Bay Area Farmers Association, or BAFA, was created by farmers for farmers to
develop cooperative ways of working together. BAFA brings the benefits of expanded
market ability, shared resources and improved communication t o each other and to
their farms. After our original Western SARE award, BAFA will continue to be
supported by farmerlmarket producer, business and individual memberships.
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After a steering committee met several times, BAFA was organized as an
unincorporated association. We are a membership based, grower group currently with
17 farmer members and one supporting member. We appointed a Board of Directors
and have held two Board meetings. We have produced a website and an informational
brochure. We are now actively looking f o r new members and exploring potential
locations for a common distribution dock. Our first Annual Membership Meet in is
scheduled for April 2005, during which we will present other opportunities for this
organization. That may include proposals for re-organization as a farmer cooperative or
educational non-profit organization, discussion about collaborating with other
sustainable agriculture groups and expansion of marketing opportunities for members.
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Since we hired our Project Administrator, developed our materials and began outreach
to other producers, the Bay Area farmers' market and restaurant community has
expressed growing interest and enthusiasm to support us. We anticipate that with
increased membership, our influence will expand along with ou ability to serve the
needs of our members and the community.
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BAFA's fulfillment of its mission will be an ongoing work in progress for the immediate
future and with the of commitment of its members, its goal to increase the viability,
productivity and time spent farming for Bay Area farmers is sure to be achieved.
Introduction
See Summary
Originally proposed as the Bay Area Agricultural Cooperative as a collaboration
between CUESA (the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) and
the producers and cooperators of the original grant, The Bay Area Farmers Association emerged after the CUESA Board of Directors decided not to endorse the collaboration.
With approval from the Western Region SARE Program, the Bay Area Farmers
Association adopted many of the same goals as originally proposed for the cooperative.
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The objectives that were re-approved include: establishing a method of communication
between farmers, and farmers and markets; encouraging direct farmer to restaurant
sales by working with existing organizations; encouraging the sharing of resources
such as labor, transportation and cold storage; and helping facilitate the connection
between farmers and customers.
Research
See summary
BAFA is still in its formative stage and its true impact is yet to be realized. Potentially, its feasible for BAFA to be the first organization of its kind in this area to offer such a wide
range of benefits to its members and to have such a broad and diverse base of membership. No other grower group in this region offers the advantage of a common distribution dock or the uniqueness of a network of supporting members to provide services of all kinds to farmer members and to provide restaurant and other supporting members with such a broad resource of direct market farmers.
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When the website is fully functioning, the communication possible for members will add to the efficiency of on and off farm projects, as well as the efficiency and extent of marketing to restaurants. Restaurants will be able to find farm fresh produce and connect with farmers and farmers will more easily identify potential restaurant customers.
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It is completely possible that each farm member who wants to increase its restaurant deliveries, could easily add more new restaurant accounts to their customer base.
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Another benefit that could be realized is the strength of a unified voice of a grower group in ongoing regulatory and policy discussions. There is a need for revised direct marketing regulations in California and as BAFA develops its communications abilities, its members' opinions can be expressed by the organization in collaboration with other regional sustainable agriculture groups, strengthening the position advocating for change that ultimately benefits the farmers directly.
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Also coming in the near future is the need for farmers of all sizes and in all regions all around the country to participate in the changes in national farm policy in the upcoming Farm Bill of 2007. As strategy conversations are beginning now, just as BAFA is growing its member base, BAFA will be able to contribute to changing major agricultural policy. This may not have an immediate or direct impact to members, but as regulatory changes occur at the state and then the local level, any successes that
benefit sustainable agriculture and direct market farmers will also benefit BAFA farmers. BAFA members will then be able to experience the impact of their organization in a much larger context.
Research Outcomes
Education and Outreach
Participation Summary:
We have recently completed production of an eye-catching four-color tri-fold brochure that we are using to promote the organization as well as secure new members. It contains information about our reason for being, our mission statement, membership criteria, benefits and services and a membership application. It is designed as a self-
mailer and the membership application can be filled in, cut out and mailed along with membership fees directly to our office.
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This January, BAFA i s exhibiting publicly for the first time in the new Exhibitor Tent at the Ecological Farming Conference in Pacific Grove, California. We will have a poster, signage, our brochures and a clipboard for people to sign up for more nformation. During a Conference reception in the Tent our Project Administrator and other BAFA members will be present to talk about the organization and receive new membership applications. We will follow up after the Conference with all who expressed interest.
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Our most valuable communication and outreach vehicle is our website. Still in development is the password-protected, members-only bulletin board and discussion forum and our web page with links to resources that will be valuable to members. Also coming is a frequently maintained news column with references to articles, event
listings, marketing and grant opportunities for members, and other information that will ultimately increase the profitability of BAFA members.
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Also under consideration is production of a sign for BAFA members t o display at their stalls in farmers markets. The sign will communicate to customers the farm's membership in BAFA and will be an excellent tool to attract supporting members as well as educating the public about how the organization benefits the farms and in turn, benefits them.
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As we move into the spring months and as BAFA1s membership grows, we will be actively working with the media for exposure and publicity. As our activity and collaborations become more visible, BAFA will quickly become known to the community it serves and will become a valuable asset to all of its members and their customers
Education and Outreach Outcomes
Potential Contributions
Now that BAFA has its informational brocliure to leave in a potential member's hand, and a live website for people to visit, new memberships are beginning to come much more quickly. Many interested, but as yet, uncommitted farmers are waiting for the
warmer months when their incomes are higher and their needs for the services BAFA offers are more immediate.
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The credibility of the organization is strengthened with each new member. As the primary membership solicitor, our Project Administrator reports that the primary reason that some farmers are not joining BAFA, is because they are already doing for
themselves, what BAFA can do for them. Many have requested discounted health insurance as a good reason to join. Another expressed the interest in having BAFA help h im help change direct market regulations. Overall, farmers see the potential and
recognize all the good reasons to be part of a new organization, support its mission and contribute to its success. We expect to at least double our 18-member roster by this summer.
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Already inspired by BAFAJs intentions, three of our member producers are exploring the possibility of creating a permanent retail market as a location for farmers to sell directly to restaurants and to the public. If they are successful in this project, there are
possible opportunities for BAFA as well, especially a location for a common dock.
Future Recommendations
As BAFA is so new, we are in the process of discovery about what will emerge as our greatest benefits to producer members and that will lead to methods that would work better for us and other similar projects. We have learned thus far that the importance
of open and productive communication between producer and farmers market management is critical to our members' success. A recommendation would be to support producer members to establish links between market management and their organization (in this case, BAFA) so that a representative of the organization can represent them, as a group, in market management discussions. Many markets will communicate only with producers directly, lessening the weight of many producers speaking with a single voice.
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Western SARE could make projects like ours more effective by more clearly defining criteria for market-oriented projects in SARE Request for Proposals. The value of the relationship of farmers and producers to their markets, including farmers markets, wholesale distribution, direct to retail or restaurants and CSAs, are opportunities to sustain economic viability on the farm and to expand agricultural sustainability.