promoting workplace csa’s in the southern adirondacks

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Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks Laura McDermott, Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program Teresa Whalen, Adirondack Harvest

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Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks. Laura McDermott, Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program Teresa Whalen, Adirondack Harvest. What we will cover today:. Introduce project partners Introduce project What is a CSA? Why would I be interested in this project? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern AdirondacksLaura McDermott, Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit ProgramTeresa Whalen, Adirondack Harvest

Page 2: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

What we will cover today:

• Introduce project partners• Introduce project• What is a CSA?• Why would I be interested in this project?• How will this project benefit my community?

• How can I learn more?

Page 3: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Cornell University Cooperative Extensionhttp://www.cce.cornell.edu/

Page 4: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Cornell Small Farms Program• Funder• Create many guides for new and alternative farmers

• Sponsor Beginning Farmer on-line courses• Much more!• http://blogs.cornell.edu/smallfarms/

Page 5: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

• http://www.adirondackharvest.com/

- envisions a picturesque and productive working landscape connecting local farmers to their communities and regional markets.- goals are to increase opportunities for profitable, sustainable production and sale of high quality food and agricultural products, and to expand consumer choices for locally produced healthy food. - This mission ensures the future preservation and growth of our open farmland while providing a diversity of healthy food products for consumers.

Adirondack Harvest

Page 6: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Adirondack Harvest activities include:

• Rutabaga Festival• Landowner/Farmer

match program• Adirondack Harvest

cookbook• Farm to Restaurant

Distribution System• Farm Fresh Foods

Maps• Farmers Market poster

Page 7: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

• Provide educational support for local farms• Educational meetings• Outreach through classes and written articles• Certification training for pesticide application and Good

Agricultural Practices implementation• Develop production guidelines for new crops• Troubleshooting• Scout for pests• Field research

Page 8: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

What is a CSA?

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA):• market avenue for local farmers• avoids the “middleman”• consumers purchase shares prior to the season• wide variety of distribution schemes• allows consumers to share in the benefits and risks of farming

Page 9: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Benefits to Consumers: • Eat food harvested within 24 hours of delivery – more flavor

and vitamins not to mention it lasts longer! • get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking• consumers are encouraged to visit the farm – you get to see

how and where your food is grown!• children favor food from "their" farm • develop a relationship with the farmer who is often a part of

the community

Page 10: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Benefits to farmers:

• Redistributes time spent on marketing to the beginning of the season• Pre-season payment allows more cash

flow when it is needed• Know the people that eat your food!

Page 11: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Variations possible• "mix and match," or "market-style" CSA• members load their own boxes with some

degree of personal choice. • extra produce donated to a food bank

• CSAs aren't confined to produce. • Options exist for shares of eggs,

homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other farm products along with their veggies.

• non-farming third parties are setting up CSA-like businesses, where they act as middle men and sell boxes of local (and sometimes non-local) food for their members

Page 12: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Shared Risk• the idea that "we're in this together" remains. – but varies

from one CSA to another• the idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of

community among members, and between members and the farmers

• most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility to their members – CSA members often get served first

Page 13: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Average market value per CSA delivery

*

CSA 1 CSA 2 CSA 3

Farmers market $14.95 $15.22 $14.75

Food cooperative $17.24 $18.10 $15.94

Natural food store $18.75 $19.04 $17.87

Chain grocery $14.97 $16.76 $15.52

Warehouse supermkt. $11.84 $10.87 $10.25

* These values do not include produce delivered as optional extras by any of the CSA farms or produce picked by members at regular you-pick days at CSA 3.

Page 14: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

CSA produce cost compared to other markets

Based on a 13-week comparison. Positive values show how much more, and negative values show how much less, a CSA member paid for produce relative to the other outlets.

Farmers mkt. Co-op Nat. food store Grocery Supermarket

CSA 1 -$52.80 -$107.76 -$144.00 -$53.28 $21.84

CSA 2 $55.16 -$8.20 -$28.88 $21.28 $150.86

CSA 3 $90.50 $64.32 $21.86 $73.56 $189.50

*These values do not include produce delivered as optional extras by any of the CSA farms or produce picked by members at regular you-pick days at CSA 3.

Page 15: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Why should I host a CSA?• Offer your employees easy access to local healthy products• CSA’s can be a very convenient way to access locally grown

food• Community minded – but your employees are the ultimate

beneficiaries• Think of what you would be offering your employees;• Better access to healthy foods• Convenience that will save employees time and fuel money• Providing a very positive activity for employees to be part of

outside of work

Page 16: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Project goals:• General information about CSA’s will be distributed to 60

businesses and 400 community members.• Guidelines for Employers considering a workplace CSA

distributed to 50 businesses and farmers• 10 businesses will send representatives to a general

informational meeting about workplace CSA’s• 5 businesses will request a site visit • 2 businesses will host a worksite CSA • 10 local farmers will learn how to incorporate a worksite CSA

into their farm marketing plan• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables by consumers

enrolling in CSA will be verified

Page 17: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

For more information:Laura McDermottCCE CDVSFP415 Lower Main StreetHudson Falls, NY [email protected]

Teresa WhalenAdirondack Harvest,Southern Chapter CoordinatorWarrensburg, [email protected]

Page 18: Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

Thank you!

• Erin Krivitski, Program CoordinatorCreating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play Worksite Wellness at the Health Promotion Center of Glens Falls Hospital

• SUNY Adirondack, Regional Higher Education Center

• Kilpatrick Family Farm – for the photos!