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Adding Value to the Sustainable Farm

Adding Value to the Sustainable Farm. Learnings from a SARE Appalachia Initiative Grant 2007. The Need. Commodity agricultural production demands high efficiency and high volume. Family living costs continue to increase.

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Adding Value to the Sustainable Farm

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  1. Adding Value to the Sustainable Farm Learnings from a SARE Appalachia Initiative Grant 2007

  2. The Need • Commodity agricultural production demands high efficiency and high volume. • Family living costs continue to increase. • Farmers must grow their business to provide the necessary return to owner’s labor and management. • Value added processing and marketing offers an option for growers with limited acreage to grow their business.

  3. The Problem • Value added production/processing provides the opportunity for increased income and profit. • Farmers are reluctant to invest, due to uncertainty about their ability to sell a value-added product. • Farmers never know if they can sell the product, because they don’t have one to sell.

  4. The Grant was the Solution • $25,000 Grant awarded in Spring 2007 • 9 farmers received $1,200 towards the cost of processing - $300 for jars and $900 for labor to grow the crop. • Additional funds used to provide marketing assistance, education, and product ideas from chefs.

  5. The Players • Collaborative for 21st Century Appalachia • Gourmet Central, Romney, WV • 6 farmers in WV • 3 farmers in PA • Brian Kelly, Penn State Extension

  6. Products Made • Somerset Sweet Onion and Garlic Jelly • Dilly Beans • Bloody Mary Mix • Spaghetti Sauce – two kinds • Blackberry Jelly • Jonagold Chunky Applesauce • Hot Sauce • Pumpkin Syrup

  7. Results • Unsold tomatoes were transformed from “pig feed” into spaghetti sauce and production was sold in a month. • Un-harvested sweet onions were “rescued” and processed! • High school boy, with help from his Grandmother, created Pumpkin Syrup

  8. By the Numbers

  9. Calvin – Bigg Rigg’s • Original product a Vodka Sauce • Over $5 production costs. Retail $8. • Pasta Sauce • $.50 Tomatoes + $3.50 processing cost = $8 Retail Price

  10. Calvin’s Bank Account!

  11. Laurel Vista Farm

  12. Sell Everything • Current market means grading for sale. • So, they have a lot of “less than first” • What do we do with the extras? • Value-Added Processing uses the good, but not perfect.

  13. For example…

  14. Key Learnings • Use over production or second quality • Growers with an established market • Price as a premium product; it is! • Make a unique or specialty product! • Product tastings and recipe ideas • 7 of the 9 invested their own money in 2008 in Value Added Processing

  15. Brian Kelly Extension Educator Penn State Extension, Blair County 301 Valley View Blvd., “E” Wing Altoona, PA 16602 bmk12@psu.edu 814-940-5989 Questions?

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