Expanding the Marketing Opportunities for Minority and Limited Resource Farmers in Louisiana and Mississippi

Expanding the Marketing Opportunities for Minority and Limited Resource Farmers in Louisiana and Mississippi

Accomplishments/Milestones

Utilizing a community-based action research framework as an integral part of this project, the focus group research with minority and limited resource producers and other residents of rural communities continues. Two focus group meetings involving a total of 28 individuals have been completed in Mississippi. Two (2) more focus groups are scheduled for April in Louisiana and Mississippi. Additional meetings are planned for May.

The focus group participants, to date, have included 18 farmers, 17 gardeners, and 4 individuals who are not active in farming or gardening. Of those involved with either farming and/or gardening, the acreage devoted to agricultural production ranges from 1/2 acre to 1800 acres. Participants have discussed local marketing opportunities and challenges, as well as the potential for more sustainable production in the region. Participants have also completed individual surveys as a means of documenting existing and potential food outlets in their communities, their personal involvement with agriculture, and their basic socio-economic characteristics. Combining this information from all focus group participants will help the project partners identify courses of action for expanding local markets in the two-state region, which producers may be willing to participate in these activities and the appropriate sources of funding for implementation.

Collaborators: