Final Report for FW08-318
Project Information
a. SUMMARY
This program funded by Western SARE provided technical assistance to farmers/ranchers about marketing their products online with the goal of expanding markets for sustainable, locally grown food. In addition to this training, basic marketing, packaging and labeling skills were taught on an individual basis to help small-scale producers. Other solutions were to provide peer-to-peer training and technical training.
Introduction
This program was designed because there was a need expressed by many area agricultural producers to expand their markets. They were involved in Farmer’s Markets and CSA’s, some in stores, but they wanted to grow and make more money. Idaho’s Bounty Cooperative (IBC) provides a year-round market opportunity via the web for area small-scale farmers and ranchers. There was agreement by area producers that they could benefit from this new form (online) of marketing but there was a need expressed for help with using it such as general "how to," printing labels, website design, packaging, pricing, etc.
III. Objectives/Performance targets as stated in the application
“Information will be disseminated through:
1. the (four) workshops in four different geographical areas within south central Idaho and then,
2. the Trainer will visit farmers/ranchers for individual help.
3. The three producers in this program (Ballards, Burns, and McMahans) will provide training in a peer-to-peer capacity to speak about their experience and the advantages to online and direct market sales. The producer applicants have agreed to do this.
4. The Trainer will rely on the technical assistance of Red Earth web designer, Emma McCauley and Oklahoma Co-op staff to help solve these technical issues. Training sessions will be open to all who are interested including those farmers and ranchers who are not currently practicing sustainable methods of production but are interested in converting to sustainable methods.”
Cooperators
Research
As this was not a research project the only methods used were education and training, including:
peer-to-peer councils
one-on-one training
phone consultation
printed materials
web and email communication
educational workshops
IV. Outcomes and Impacts
1. IBC held 3 educational workshops instead of 4 as planned. Over 50 producers were reached and over half came to all 3 workshops. (We were not able to fit in a 4th workshop before planting season began.)
2. Individual help for specific online technical problems was provided primarily over the phone on a case-by-case basis. Individual technical assistance for specific problems was also available at every workshop.
3. Three producer partners spoke at at least 1 of each of the meetings about their experience with IBC and gave their advice and suggestions.
4. In December of 2007 when IBC originally designed the grant, we hoped to bring the original developer of the software, Emma McCauley, out to Idaho. By the fall of 2008, due to the success of her consulting business Emma had hired a second web designer to help create a new version of the online marketing software. She was no longer available to fly from Oklahoma to Idaho. Instead she appointed Roy Guisinger to work very closely with IBC staff on a regular basis and train them to identify and solve web marketing issues.
5. Additional Beneficial (unplanned) Outcomes:
6. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture handbook, Starting Specialty Foods Business, was handed out to each participant. And two presentations from the state Department of Ag were given:
ii. By Idaho Preferred: http://www.idahopreferred.com/
about their Chef Collaboratives around the state where Producers can meet chefs. They also talked about the Farm to School opportunities for producers to meet new customers and expand markets.
iii. By Ag in The Classroom, which is the Idaho version of the national program. http://www.agclassroom.org/
iv. Presentation by Red Feather Bitter Creek Restaurant: how to work with a restaurant. How much business they do, what they buy each year. Help with growing wholesale business.
v. In an attempt to make a link between customers and producers to expand markets IBC passed out a list of food that customers want.
Idaho's Bounty Products Needed, contact for more information: jwall@idahosbounty.org or laura@idahosbounty.org
The following is a start on a list of products we are looking to discuss with anyone interested in growing them.
Products we would love to sell and currently have none of:
Broccoli / broccolini
Asparagus!
Mini peppers and pepper varieties
Fennel
Sprouts - spicy and/or broccoli or others
Tofu!
Avocados (can it be done here?)
Oats
Lentils
Flour: white, farrow, spelt
Quinoa
Sweet potatoes and yams
cabbages
mushrooms
sesame seeds, etc.
Garbanzo beans
Hominy
Other artisan cheeses
prepared dinners, lunches
garlic
Products we will need a much larger supply of:
Eggs
Carrots
Any other root vegetables that will last into winter sales: beets, etc.
Fruit - berries especially, and any others too (Lee's melons were a huge hit)
Sweet cherry tomatoes (golden and others)
Goat cheese
b. IBC worked with the Wood River Resource Conservation District to get a grant writer for producers to help write applications for Value-Added Grants. Mike Heath is looking into frozen food. He already sends his food to be frozen and sold on the commodity market. He is applying for a grant to keep this food local. This would be an entirely new market for local producers and since IBC already is a year-round market this would be a new product category.
Research Outcomes
Education and Outreach
Participation Summary:
VII. Potential Contributions, Outreach continued
a. IBC will post on its site the highlights of feedback and recommendations from Producers gleaned at these trainings. By posting these comments online they become available to any producer interested in how to market their products through on online coop such as Idaho’s Bounty.
Education and Outreach Outcomes
Potential Contributions
VII. Potential Contributions, Outreach
These Trainings taught Producers how to market themselves online by posting their personal stories. This develops customer relationships and loyalty almost as successfully as at a Farmer’s Market but with more leverage. The customer can go online any time day or night to read about the stories. Food is no longer anonymous when you can go online and see the face of your food. This is certainly an even more effective medium than the anonymity of a store.
What follows are: EXAMPLES OF MARKETING STORIES ON WEBSITE FOR ALL PRODUCERS TO SEE AND LEARN FROM
http://www.idahosbounty.org/shop/producers/cowss.php
Examples of stories/descriptions by Producers on the IBC website.
Fish Processors Fish Breeders of Idaho
Leo & Tod Ray Hagerman, ID
Product Types: Fish: trout, tilapia, and catfish
About Us
Located in the scenic Snake River Canyon of Southern Idaho, Fish Breeders of Idaho produces and processes the highest quality rainbow trout, catfish and tilapia. With dedication to quality and service, our staff controls the entire process from egg through production to processing, marketing, and distribution, assuring our customer the finest quality product.
Idaho is famous for its crystal clear spring water. In this water Fish Breeders of Idaho raise their rainbow trout. In the same area Fish Breeders has hot artesian wells that produce abundant quantities of 95-degree water. Mixing this hot artesian water with cold spring water produces the ideal temperature for growing catfish and tilapia.
Leo and Judy Ray built their first catfish fish farm in the Imperial Valley of California in 1969. In search of a new and better way to grow catfish, Leo and Judy moved to Idaho in 1973. Geothermal water, concrete raceways, high-density production and temperature control was first successfully introduced to catfish production. Introducing this technology to tilapia production was the next step in their goal to stay at the forefront of aquaculture technology. Rainbow trout was added to the operation in 1978. Fish Breeders of Idaho will lead the industry in new production and technology in the future.
The high quality of the fish is no accident. The better flavor, texture and overall quality are results of clean, clear water flowing through concrete raceways. A total exchange of clean, clear water every five minutes in each production unit insures excellent flavor. Swimming in a constant current, the fish develop a firm texture.
II. Durand Farms
Vicky & Dan Durand
Richfield, Id
Product Types: Farm Fresh Brown Eggs
About Us
We are a family farm located six miles north of Richfield, Idaho, and have been in operation for the past thirty-six years. We applied for organic certification on our hay, grain and pasture. On June 24, 2008, we received our organic certification. We produce alfalfa hay, grain and pasture along with our eggs. Because our lovely farm flock has grown, we now have delicious eggs to share with others who appreciate the difference of a real farm fresh egg.
Our Black Australorps, Barred Rocks and Golden Sex-Links all produce brown eggs and are free range. Our hens enjoy the bountiful variety that Southern Idaho provides.
We believe that happy and contented chickens lay the best eggs. We raise our chickens from babies and they are friendly and happy in their surroundings. We do close them up at night in their chicken house to keep them safe from predators.
We love our eggs for the colorful yolks and great flavor that only free ranging chickens can produce. We believe that you will too.
Browse through our Products for Sale
Practices (our standards for raising or making our products)
Our hens are happily free ranged. We feed natural grains and alfalfa hay and pasture. Each day our eggs are gathered, candled and refrigerated.
3. Morning Star Organic Farm
Ed & Christa Lucero
1146 E. 820 N.
Richfield, ID 83349 moo4milk@magiclink.com
208-487-2882 (home)
www.morningstarorganics.com
Product Types: Organic Vegetables, and Specialty Organic Products.
About Us
Mission Statement: Morning Star Organic Farm’s mission is to be a locally owned and operated, we use only organic practices for our farm and dairy. Our operational belief is to produce natural products, the way God intended, with attention to detail and integrity. Family Owned & Operated: Morning Star Organic Farm’s business practices are as traditional as our historic roots. The farm was homesteaded in 1907 by Christa's grandfather Powell, Christa's father started dairying in 1946 doing things the right way. Today, Morning Star Organic Farm is USDA certified organic and located in the heart of the Magic Valley, Richfield, Idaho. Passionate about each and every pasture fed, naturally sustained, and antibiotic free cow. Herd health and environmentally friendly farm practices are a vital component of Morning Star Organic Farm’s philosophy, All of our organic manure goes back into the soil to provide us with the most incredible pastures for our cattle, and the most fertile soil for our gardens. Growing up here we had a sign on our wall, "ALL THAT WE HAVE WE OWE TO UDDERS" we didn't realize at the time just exactly what it meant, but now we know that all that we have we do owe to "udders" not others, but cow "udders."
Future Recommendations
This is not a future recommendation for Western SARE however it is worth noting. Based on the success of this Western SARE grant and how many producers (40) in South Central Idaho benefited, IBC is able to demonstrate the need and apply for another grant to help producers market their products year-round online. In cooperation with the North West Cooperative Development Center IBC and its producer members are applying for an FMPP grant through the USDA to establish a Training Program in the northwest for other food co-ops and interested individuals to learn how to start their own online local food coop. This will be a tremendous opportunity to promote the value and success of online marketing for small farm families and ranchers throughout the northwest and will open up even more markets for local farmers.
In the future there may be the opportunity to link up websites so that all local food co-ops could share bulk orders and trade with each other.