Linking Sustainable Agriculture Production with Low-income Consumer and Minorities

Linking Sustainable Agriculture Production with Low-income Consumer and Minorities

Summary

Creation of a direct marketing program to link producers and underserved consumers would not only provide access to fresh produce to the consumers but also enhance producer sales.

Objective: To identify options for increasing access to local and/or organic produce for two low-income populations in Lorain County, Ohio.

Methods: The coordinator hired a part time intern to meet with civic groups and churches in underserved communities and develop programs to attract more low-income residents to the Oberlin Sustainable Agriculture Project community-supported farm market in downtown Oberlin. He established partnership with the Oberlin Community Center to donate leftover market produce to food relief programs and began a process to grant subsidized community-supported agriculture shares and become authorized to accept food stamps at the farm market.

Results: The group completed a needs assessment survey to determine interest in supporting a farm market and year-long food co-op. They also: 1) Prepared a proposal and received funding for an $8,000 grant from the campaign for human development, 2) Completed a report on researching food related small business development in low-income areas, 3) Operated the farm market to provide direct access to low-income consumers, 4) Completed a survey to determine producer interest in local food marketing and developed a plan to implement outreach initiative, and 5) Collected footage for a video on sustainable development in South Lorain.

North Central Region SARE 1998 Annual Report.

Collaborators: