Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
Practices
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development, market study
- Sustainable Communities: public policy
Proposal abstract:
Project objectives from proposal:
This project proposes to quantify the capacity of area producers to supply institutional buyers on a regular basis. It will help area producers understand the requirements of the institutional buyers and help them assess their capacity to supply larger institutional markets given the volume requirements and price limitations. Direct market farmers will be able to assess whether wholesaling offers a way to expand their farm operations. It will engage those producers who have the capacity to supply institutional markets directly with the purchasing agents who make these arrangements.
There are many farm-to-college or farm-to-institution initiatives around the country. A key to success appears to be a deliberate effort on the part of the institution to change policies to incorporate local farm products into their purchasing practices and the development of strong one-one relationships with farmers who have the capacity to meet institutional supply requirements on a more regular basis.
While there have been regional activities to link local producers and buyers, most have been focused on one-time local food dinners or events. For example, Cornell has hosted a local foods day or week in one of their dining halls for at least 5 years. Numerous other communities and organizations in the region are promoting local food dinners and events. While these activities generate additional sales for local producers, some producers tell us single events are often more effort than they are worth since they generally involve a small one-time delivery that does not result in a sustained relationship. A more deliberate intentional networking effort to link producers and buyers is needed to build sustainable relationships that will benefit the farmers of the region.