mariela cedeno - investing in sustainable agriculture
TRANSCRIPT
True Cost of American FoodInvesting in Sustainable Agriculture
April 16th, 2016
Engage community
Systemsapproach
Building on community assets
MANDELA MARKETPLACE APPROACH
COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
a worker-owned, full-service retail grocery store that fosters economic empowerment & builds community health.
MANDELA FOODS COOPERATIVE
Supports local, under-resourced farmers by establishing an alternative distribution network that passes on wholesale prices to community businesses.
MANDELA FOODS DISTRIBUTION
ZELLA’S SOULFUL KITCHEN
FOOD ACCESS
Increases access points for healthy food by delivering produce to corner stores, making produce readily available in the places that community members frequent the most.
HEALTHY RETAIL
COMMUNITY PRODUCE STANDSWeekly produce stands at area senior centers, residential facilities, health centers, and schools. Residents are able to purchase fresh
produce & basic staples at affordable prices in a convenient, friendly, and helpful atmosphere.
NUTRTION EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT
FINANCE
Kiva Zip / FarmLink Harvest to Market / Ladder-Up Financing Leveraged HFFI funds to create loan/loss reserves: $75,000 $200,000+
Increased access to financing for community entrepreneurs, farmers, corner store owners, grocers increasing access to healthy food in disinvested, under-served communities.
LADDER UP FINANCING
Purchase Order Advance
Pricing –> Purchase Order –> Advance –> Loan Fee –>Product Pick Up –> Product Sales –> Loan Repayment –> Re-Up
HARVEST TO MARKET
LOCAL SYSTEMS
| LOCAL | SUSTAINABLE |COMMUNITY OWNED |
TAKE-AWAYS Low-income communities are often left out of the ‘sustainability’
conversation
Disinvested communities can capitalize from market gaps not being filled by the traditional market
Food economy as a catalyst
Current capital systems are not accessible
Creating sustainable community development, requires community ownership. .
Ownership is asset building – financial and political voice.
@mandelamarket
https://www.facebook.com/mandelamarketplace
Mariela Cedeño | [email protected]
www.mandelamarketplace.org