Local Food Systems – Local Food Systems – Idaho Farmers Idaho Farmers

Markets Organize!Markets Organize!

Diane EggertDiane EggertExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

Farmers’ Market Federation of New York Farmers’ Market Federation of New York Statedeggert@nyfarmersmarket.comStatedeggert@nyfarmersmarket.com

Workshop AgendaWorkshop AgendaFirst Session:First Session: Introductions Introductions Case Study: Farmers Market Federation of NYCase Study: Farmers Market Federation of NYSecond Session:Second Session: Visioning an Idaho Farmers Market AssociationVisioning an Idaho Farmers Market Association

SWOT analysis – Idaho specificSWOT analysis – Idaho specificThird Session:Third Session: Steps to Build Idaho’s AssociationSteps to Build Idaho’s Association

ProcessProcess Sustainability Sustainability

Fourth Session:Fourth Session: Next StepsNext Steps

First Session:First Session:

•Farmers’ Market Federation of New Farmers’ Market Federation of New York StateYork State•““a case study”a case study”

A Farmers Market A Farmers Market AssociationAssociation

Fulfilling Your Fulfilling Your Triple Bottom LineTriple Bottom Line

Farmers Market Federation of NY – Farmers Market Federation of NY – A Case StudyA Case Study

Creation of the Farmers Market Creation of the Farmers Market Federation of NYFederation of NY

Developed a board of directorsDeveloped a board of directors Structured a committee systemStructured a committee system Sought member inputSought member input Developed a strategic planDeveloped a strategic plan

Developed partnerships to:Developed partnerships to:

Create successful programsCreate successful programs Get our message outGet our message out Make our voice heardMake our voice heard

Who are our partners?Who are our partners? State Dept of AgricultureState Dept of Agriculture Land Grant UniversityLand Grant University Cornell Cooperative Extension EducatorsCornell Cooperative Extension Educators State Health DeptState Health Dept State Agency operating food stamp programState Agency operating food stamp program Statewide grower organizationsStatewide grower organizations Consumer groupsConsumer groups National organizations – National organizations –

Farmers Market CoalitionFarmers Market Coalition

How do we benefit our state’s How do we benefit our state’s markets and their farmers?markets and their farmers?

Program Development Program Development

increase customer traffic at marketsincrease customer traffic at markets Increase sales for farmers Increase sales for farmers Promote increased consumption of local foodsPromote increased consumption of local foods Create top of mind awareness of farmers marketsCreate top of mind awareness of farmers markets

Statewide Statewide promotionspromotions

Banners Banners Tote bagsTote bags Bumper stickersBumper stickers State FairState Fair BrochuresBrochures

2009 New York State Fair with Biz Kid$

NYS Farmers Market Wireless NYS Farmers Market Wireless EBT ProgramEBT Program

Makes open air Makes open air markets accessible to markets accessible to food stamp customersfood stamp customers

Debit and credit Debit and credit capability creates new capability creates new wooden economy wooden economy within the marketwithin the market

Creates retail Creates retail excitementexcitement

Adds sales and profits Adds sales and profits for farmers.for farmers.

Media kits help Media kits help markets promote markets promote the programthe program

Encourages Encourages markets to markets to develop develop community community partnershipspartnerships

Incentive programs benefit Incentive programs benefit everyoneeveryone

Creating Creating partnerships in the partnerships in the communitycommunity

Creates food access Creates food access for low income for low income consumersconsumers

Builds traffic for Builds traffic for farmers marketsfarmers markets

Increases revenue Increases revenue for market farmersfor market farmers

Services offered by a statewide Services offered by a statewide organization can benefit both markets organization can benefit both markets and farmers …and farmers … Cost savings programsCost savings programs

Liability insurance programsLiability insurance programs Market developmentMarket development

Working with communities to develop new Working with communities to develop new farmers marketsfarmers markets

Assisting with market infrastructure Assisting with market infrastructure developmentdevelopment

Creating new marketing opportunitiesCreating new marketing opportunities Market basket programs; food bank partnershipsMarket basket programs; food bank partnerships

Market Manager TrainingMarket Manager Training Annual conference for market managersAnnual conference for market managers

Developing professional standards for Developing professional standards for market managementmarket management

Market manager training manualMarket manager training manual Farmers Market Information DaysFarmers Market Information Days

Programmatic training; WIC Vegetable and Programmatic training; WIC Vegetable and Fruit Check Program, FMNP, EBT, Fruit Check Program, FMNP, EBT, regulatoryregulatory

Market Manager Mentoring ProgramMarket Manager Mentoring Program

Networking & Networking & CommunicationsCommunications

Quarterly NewsletterQuarterly Newsletter Website Website NYFarmersmarket-L NYFarmersmarket-L

listserve listserve

AdvocacyAdvocacy Keeping farmers market issues at the forefront with Keeping farmers market issues at the forefront with

local, state and federal policymakerslocal, state and federal policymakers

Strengthen current programs; ie FMNP, FMPPStrengthen current programs; ie FMNP, FMPP Promote state level programs – funding for a Promote state level programs – funding for a

farmers market grants programfarmers market grants program Safeguarding agricultural interests - food safety Safeguarding agricultural interests - food safety

issues, zoning regulations targeting agriculture, issues, zoning regulations targeting agriculture, labor regs, insurance regslabor regs, insurance regs

AdvocacyAdvocacy Advancing the industry –Advancing the industry –

Active member of the state Food Policy Active member of the state Food Policy CouncilCouncil

Member of the state agricultural marketing Member of the state agricultural marketing program – Pride of NYprogram – Pride of NY

Advisory committees for marketing programs Advisory committees for marketing programs at land grant universityat land grant university

Advisory committee for legislative Advisory committee for legislative agricultural committeesagricultural committees

Continuous Member Input - Continuous Member Input - keeps the organization relevantkeeps the organization relevant

Round table discussions at conferences and Round table discussions at conferences and workshopsworkshops

Visioning sessionsVisioning sessions Member surveysMember surveys Member inclusion in committeesMember inclusion in committees

Keep the membership informed and involved.

A statewide Farmers Market A statewide Farmers Market Association can …Association can …

Bring markets together to share Bring markets together to share information and resourcesinformation and resources

Provide cost saving benefitsProvide cost saving benefits Provide services to promote markets, Provide services to promote markets,

increasing customer traffic and farmers increasing customer traffic and farmers sales and profitabilitysales and profitability

Advocate on behalf of farmers marketsAdvocate on behalf of farmers markets Educate and informEducate and inform

Helping markets fulfill their Helping markets fulfill their triple bottom line …triple bottom line …

Serving farmers with marketing Serving farmers with marketing opportunitiesopportunities

Serving consumers with access to fresh, Serving consumers with access to fresh, nutritious local foodsnutritious local foods

Serving host communities with programs Serving host communities with programs and services that make the market an and services that make the market an economic, social, and nutritional benefit economic, social, and nutritional benefit to the communityto the community

Second Session:Second Session:• Visioning an Idaho Farmers’ Visioning an Idaho Farmers’ Market AssociationMarket Association

•S.W.O.T. Analysis – Idaho SpecificS.W.O.T. Analysis – Idaho Specific

Idaho Farmers Market Idaho Farmers Market Association: WeaknessesAssociation: Weaknesses

1. Short growing season1. Short growing season2. No WIC or Senior FMNP program2. No WIC or Senior FMNP program3. Few markets accept EBT 3. Few markets accept EBT 4. Size of state vs number of markets4. Size of state vs number of markets5. Confusing food safety regulations5. Confusing food safety regulations6. Food markets vs craft markets6. Food markets vs craft markets7. 7. 8. 8.

Idaho Farmers Market Idaho Farmers Market Association: StrengthsAssociation: Strengths

1.1. Number of markets is increasingNumber of markets is increasing2.2. 3.3. 4.4. 5.5. 6.6. 7.7. 8.8.

Idaho Farmers Market Idaho Farmers Market Association: OpportunitiesAssociation: Opportunities

1. Statewide voice for food safety 1. Statewide voice for food safety regulationregulation

2. Statewide push for WIC and Senior 2. Statewide push for WIC and Senior FMNPFMNP

3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. 6.

Idaho Farmers Market Idaho Farmers Market Association: ThreatsAssociation: Threats

Internal:Internal:1. Funding1. Funding2. manpower2. manpower3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6.6.7.7.

External:External:1.1.2.2.3.3.4.4.5.5.6.6.7.7.

Third Session:Third Session:Steps to Building an Idaho Steps to Building an Idaho

Farmers’ Market Association Farmers’ Market Association

Steps to Build an Idaho Steps to Build an Idaho Farmers Market AssociationFarmers Market Association

Process:Process:1.1.2.2.3.3.

Funding sourcesFunding sources1.1.2.2.3.3.

Fourth Session:Fourth Session:“Next Steps for Idaho”“Next Steps for Idaho” Planning committeesPlanning committees Time lineTime line

Diane EggertFarmers Market Federation of NYdeggert@nyfarmersmarket.com

315-637-4690