An Introduction to Farm to Fork & An Introduction to Farm to Fork & Farm to School ProcurementFarm to School Procurement
Presented by:Presented by:
California Farm to School NetworkCalifornia Farm to School Networkwww.cafarmtoschool.orgwww.cafarmtoschool.org
July 15, 2014July 15, 2014
Diana Abellera, Diana Abellera, Community Alliance with Family FarmersCommunity Alliance with Family FarmersSharon Cech, Sharon Cech, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental CollegeUrban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College
Erin Derden-Little, Erin Derden-Little, Community Alliance with Family FarmersCommunity Alliance with Family Farmers
OverviewOverview
I.I. Overview of Farm to Fork ProcurementOverview of Farm to Fork Procurement
II.II. City and County InitiativesCity and County Initiatives
III.III. Farm to School ModelsFarm to School Models
IV.IV. How to Start a Worksite CSAHow to Start a Worksite CSA
V.V. Marketing & Community AwarenessMarketing & Community Awareness
What is Farm to Fork?What is Farm to Fork?
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://cafarmtofork.com/: http://cafarmtofork.com/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://cafarmtofork.com/: http://cafarmtofork.com/
Any effort that enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers.
• Products that are source-identified (by location or farm)
• Education about local food
• Access to local food / procurement
Farm to Fork may include:Farm to Fork may include:Farm to Fork may include:Farm to Fork may include:
What is Procurement?What is Procurement?
Procurement Procurement PrinciplesPrinciples
• The purchasing of goods and servicesThe purchasing of goods and services• Government / institutions vs. retail / worksite / otherGovernment / institutions vs. retail / worksite / other• The procurement process involves: The procurement process involves:
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/
How do I start?How do I start?
1) Gather stakeholders
2) Define your program goals, for example:
o Support local growers or family farmerso Marketing to increase meal participation o Comply with policy
3) Set targets, for example: o Define “local” (250mi radius? State of
CA?)o Identify desired percent of local product
(5%? 25%?)
4) Create implementation and evaluation plan
?
City and County InitiativesCity and County Initiatives
A public commitment to “local” can be an important first step!A public commitment to “local” can be an important first step!
City of Santa CruzCity of Santa Cruz Humboldt County Humboldt County City of Los AngelesCity of Los Angeles
“The County Board of Supervisors … urges all community members to join in a month-long celebration of local agriculture, farmers, and producers who provide our food.“
“With this pledge, I declare my commitment to the Good Food movement and join with other concerned eaters to provide lasting support for Good Food within our 200-mile foodshed.”
Los Angeles Food Policy CouncilLos Angeles Food Policy Council
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://goodfoodla.org/policymaking/good-food-procurement/: http://goodfoodla.org/policymaking/good-food-procurement/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://goodfoodla.org/policymaking/good-food-procurement/: http://goodfoodla.org/policymaking/good-food-procurement/
Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Good Food Purchasing Program is the most Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Good Food Purchasing Program is the most comprehensive and metric-based food purchasing policy of its kind in the nation. comprehensive and metric-based food purchasing policy of its kind in the nation.
Farm to School - Core ElementsFarm to School - Core Elements
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.farmtoschool.org OR www.cafarmtoschool.org : www.farmtoschool.org OR www.cafarmtoschool.org Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.farmtoschool.org OR www.cafarmtoschool.org : www.farmtoschool.org OR www.cafarmtoschool.org
Farm to School – USDA Census Farm to School – USDA Census
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/ : www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/ : www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/
• 625/860 school districts completed survey
• 56% said they are doing Farm to School
• Of $274 million spent on school food, $51 million was spent on local food
• Citrus, apples, lettuce, berries, carrots
California Farm to School NetworkCalifornia Farm to School Network
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.cafarmtoschool.org/: www.cafarmtoschool.org/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.cafarmtoschool.org/: www.cafarmtoschool.org/
California Farm to School Network
o Regular blog updates / stories
o FoodCorps
o Monthly activities
o Listserv
o Resources
o Webinars
o Calendars
o Find out who else is in your region with the CFSN!
F2S Procurement – Farmer DirectF2S Procurement – Farmer Direct
AdvantagesAdvantages ChallengesChallenges• Builds strong partnerships Builds strong partnerships
between schools and farmersbetween schools and farmers• Requires flexibilityRequires flexibility
• The farmer can grow what The farmer can grow what you want and can implement you want and can implement contract growingcontract growing
• More administrative work to More administrative work to manage multiple vendorsmanage multiple vendors
• Uses an informal bidding Uses an informal bidding processprocess
• Farmer acts as distributorFarmer acts as distributor
• No middleman, so farmers No middleman, so farmers profitprofit
• Difficult for farmers to fill Difficult for farmers to fill volumes for larger districtsvolumes for larger districts
The Farmer Direct strategy means that school food services buy directly from The Farmer Direct strategy means that school food services buy directly from farmers. This strategy works particularly well for small districts in rural areas.farmers. This strategy works particularly well for small districts in rural areas.
Examples: Examples: •Eureka City SchoolsEureka City Schools•Santa Rosa City Schools Santa Rosa City Schools •Ventura Unified School DistrictVentura Unified School District
F2S Procurement: Conventional DistributorF2S Procurement: Conventional Distributor
AdvantagesAdvantages ChallengesChallenges• You control specs through the You control specs through the
RFPRFP• Removes direct connection Removes direct connection
with growerswith growers
• Distributors respond to your Distributors respond to your needsneeds
• Local doesn’t always equal Local doesn’t always equal small or disadvantagedsmall or disadvantaged
• Products can often be source-Products can often be source-identifiedidentified
• Distributors may not be able Distributors may not be able to accommodate all needs to accommodate all needs
• Distributors are used to Distributors are used to responding to market responding to market demandsdemandsExample: Example:
• Oakland Unified School DistrictOakland Unified School District— — Oakland, CAOakland, CA
Conventional distributors offering local products can be a straightforward Conventional distributors offering local products can be a straightforward strategy for Farm to School sourcing, particularly for large districts.strategy for Farm to School sourcing, particularly for large districts.
F2S Procurement: Food Hubs F2S Procurement: Food Hubs
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://oldgrovefarmshare.com/portfolio-item/bob/: http://oldgrovefarmshare.com/portfolio-item/bob/ Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://oldgrovefarmshare.com/portfolio-item/bob/: http://oldgrovefarmshare.com/portfolio-item/bob/
AdvantagesAdvantages ChallengesChallenges• Support small and midsized Support small and midsized
producersproducers• Not many currently existNot many currently exist
• Source-identified products Source-identified products from multiple farms with a from multiple farms with a single invoicesingle invoice
• Tend to be supplemental Tend to be supplemental (not volume of distributors)(not volume of distributors)
• Maintain level of relationship Maintain level of relationship with growers with growers
• Logistics can be more difficult Logistics can be more difficult (in house vs. coordination) (in house vs. coordination)
• Typically have adequate food Typically have adequate food safety certifications, safety certifications, insurance, etc… for insurance, etc… for institutional customers institutional customers
Food hubs help small-scale farmers reach wholesale markets that they could not Food hubs help small-scale farmers reach wholesale markets that they could not access on their own, and usually function like small distributors. access on their own, and usually function like small distributors.
Example: Example: •Old Grove Orange / Inland Old Grove Orange / Inland Orange ConservancyOrange Conservancy— — Redlands, CARedlands, CA
Farm to PreschoolFarm to Preschool
Family Childcare SettingFamily Childcare Setting
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.farmtopreschool.org: www.farmtopreschool.org Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.farmtopreschool.org: www.farmtopreschool.org
PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: Farmers’ MarketFarmers’ Market
Institutional-scale SettingInstitutional-scale Setting
PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: DistributorDistributor
Farm to School PolicyFarm to School Policy
Local School District Policies:Local School District Policies:o Berkeley Unified: $450K school garden
and nutrition program
o Davis Joint Unified: $70K/year parcel tax
o Oakland Unified: Measure J $40 million for facilities and farm
o School Wellness Councils / Policies
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://www.farmtoschool.org/policy: http://www.farmtoschool.org/policy Resources can be found atResources can be found at: http://www.farmtoschool.org/policy: http://www.farmtoschool.org/policy
Oakland Unified School DistrictOakland Unified School District
Farm to HospitalFarm to Hospital
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.caff.org: www.caff.org Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.caff.org: www.caff.org
How-to Guide by Healthcare How-to Guide by Healthcare without Harm and Community without Harm and Community Alliance with Family FarmersAlliance with Family Farmers
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
o Members purchase a “share” of the harvesto Farmer provides members with weekly shares of fresh,
seasonal produce for a specified time frameo Payment is usually upfront
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Worksite CSA Modelo Weekly shares are delivered directly to the workplace
Imagine not having to stop at the grocery store on your way home from work…
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Workplace Wellnesso Help employees access fresh, local foodo Promote a healthier and more productive workplace
For every dollar spent on wellness programs, the average employer saves $3.27 in medical costs.
“Health Policy Brief: Workplace Wellness Programs,”
Health Affairs, May 10, 2011
A) Identify a point persono One point of contacto Bridge to decision makers in the workplaceo Main coordinator of logistics and communication…
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
How to Get Started:How to Get Started:
……YOU!YOU!
B) Find CSA(s) near you and what they offer
o Deliveryo Costo Payment optionso Share sizes (full, half)o Minimum number of members
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
How to Get Started:How to Get Started:
Search for CSAs through: Search for CSAs through:
•Buy Fresh Buy Local Search Bar at Buy Fresh Buy Local Search Bar at caff.orgcaff.org•Local Farmers Market Local Farmers Market AssociationsAssociations•UCCE and other Farmer Support UCCE and other Farmer Support OrganizationsOrganizations
C) Build Participationo Determine whether workplace can provide financial
support o Recruit members, secure commitmento Collect payment
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
How to Get Started:How to Get Started:
D) Finalize Delivery Site and Systemso Secure location for boxeso System for unclaimed boxes/box returno Communication system
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
How to Get Started:How to Get Started:
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Other Factors to Consider o Timing o Low-income Access
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Types of Worksiteso Hospitalo Senior Resource Centero Schoolo Public Health o Office Buildingo Retailo Many more!
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Benefits Beyond Employee Healtho Creates educational opportunityo Builds Communityo Helps farmers reach new audienceo Can open the door for procurement in worksite cafeterias
Farm to Worksite – Farm to Worksite – through CSAthrough CSA
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/WorksiteFitBusinessKit.aspx#produce: www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/WorksiteFitBusinessKit.aspx#produceResources can be found atResources can be found at: www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/WorksiteFitBusinessKit.aspx#produce: www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/WorksiteFitBusinessKit.aspx#produce
Resourceso Outreach flier from CAFFo Worksite Program California Fit Business Kit: Ordering Produce for the Worksiteo [email protected]
F2F Retail: Whole Foods MarketsF2F Retail: Whole Foods Markets
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.wholefoods.com: www.wholefoods.com Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.wholefoods.com: www.wholefoods.com
What is Farm to Fork Retail? What is Farm to Fork Retail?
Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.uepi.oxy.edu: www.uepi.oxy.edu Resources can be found atResources can be found at: www.uepi.oxy.edu: www.uepi.oxy.edu
#1) Sourcing Local #1) Sourcing Local #2) Marketing Local #2) Marketing Local #3) Transparency#3) Transparency
Farm to WIC Pilot Farm to WIC Pilot (2009-2012)(2009-2012)•3 chains serving 9 stores3 chains serving 9 stores•4 primary products4 primary products•Over 340,000 lbs of fresh local produce Over 340,000 lbs of fresh local produce to WIC consumersto WIC consumers•Over $200K to local farmersOver $200K to local farmers
F2F Retail: WIC-Only StoresF2F Retail: WIC-Only Stores
Marketing CampaignsMarketing Campaigns
Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events
• September – Local Food Month Local Food Month www.localfoodmonth.org (Humboldt Co.)
• October – Farm to School Month Farm to School Month www.farmtoschoolmonth.org
• October 24 – Food Day Food Day www.foodday.org
Thank You!Thank You!
For more information:For more information:
Diana AbelleraDiana AbelleraStatewide Food Systems DirectorStatewide Food Systems Director
Community Alliance with Family FarmersCommunity Alliance with Family Farmers
www.cafarmtoschool.orgwww.cafarmtoschool.orgfarmtoschool@[email protected]
510-832-4625 x14510-832-4625 x14
Sharon CechSharon CechRegional Food Systems Program ManagerRegional Food Systems Program Manager
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental CollegeUrban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College
[email protected]@oxy.edu323-341-5091323-341-5091