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Aggregation & Distribution Working Group

Aggregation & Distribution Working Group. Road Map for the Food Economy Working Conference January 29, 2013. Members of this working group include:. Brandy Brabham WVU Extension - Roane County Gail Patton Unlimited Future, Inc. Stacy Garrett Wild Ramp Shelly Keeney Wild Ramp

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Aggregation & Distribution Working Group

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  1. Aggregation & DistributionWorking Group Road Map for the Food Economy Working Conference January 29, 2013

  2. Members of this working group include: • Brandy Brabham WVU Extension - Roane County • Gail Patton Unlimited Future, Inc. • Stacy Garrett Wild Ramp • Shelly Keeney Wild Ramp • Drew Gatlin Fayette County F2S – AmeriCorps • Dominique Wong Wild Ramp • Mary Oldham Appalachian Foodshed Project • Brenda Hunt Heart and Hand House • Reg Trefethen Heart and Hand House • Alex Straight WVU Extension - Dodridge County • Herk Conner Doddridge County EDA • Joe Heathcock Lobelia Cooperative • Lesa Gay South Morgantown Community Market / WVFMA • Hugh Gay Mountaineer Country Farmers Market • Kristi Ruggles The Wild Ramp • Mary Beth Lind Tygart Valley Growers Association • Shepherd Ogden Jefferson County Development Authority • Jill Young GVEDC -GV Local Foods Initiative • Patti Miller Panorama at the Peak - Farm Fresh Dining with a View

  3. Who we are • Producers looking for outlets • Producers working together to coordinate production for volume buyers • Businesses and institutions seeking local products • Technical assistance providers working with producers and businesses to connect local foods with local consumers

  4. Objective of the group To move more West Virginia products from empowered producers to knowledge consumer by building stronger, more interconnected and transparent systems of local food aggregators and distribution systems.

  5. Our group’s 2012 Project MFM Field Trip June 27 &28, 2012 • To enrich the conversation about local food aggregation and distribution, so that working group member and other attendees have a better understanding of current aggregation and distribution activities in WV, understand how supply chains work, recognize what barriers exist to building local supply chains, and see what the needs of the working group could meet.

  6. Our group’s 2012 Project 20 attendees from across WV Activities included – • A delicious dinner sourced from local farms • A tour of the Monroe Farm Market aggregation site • Facilitated discussions by Patti Millar • Presentations by Tom McConnell, WVSOS and Brandy Brabham

  7. Our group’s 2012 Project - Results • Shared successes and challenges in aggregating local foods • Saw a successful model in action • Learned about cooperatives • Inspired two different groups to move forward with their own A & D projects

  8. Our group’s 2012 Project - Outcomes • Mountaineer Country Farmers Market ….. • Inspired to start online farmers market in four county region of N Central WV • The Wild Ramp ….. • Demonstrated a successful model for implementation

  9. What did we learn? • That there is unmet demand for local products • Small producers can make substantial income when connected directly to consumers • Online farm markets and aggregators can are viable businesses • Social networking is key for connecting producers to consumers in today’s marketplace • Basic cultural change will be required for sustainable local food system

  10. What did we observe? • Distribution is still a major economic problem • Every problem has more than one possible solution • Planning is essential, but trial and error will improve implementation • Statewide information sharing will improve the efficiency of the trial and error process

  11. Policy Opportunities • Food safety policy should be scale and risk appropriate to avoid disadvantaging small and medium scale producers e.g. exemptions for smallest producers • Normalization of regulation with surrounding states to increase cross border commerce • Focus resources on small to medium size, locally owned businesses with increased job multiplier effects

  12. Looking to the Future: Next Steps Next, our working group proposes to do the following: • Build an information network to share success and challenges so that different parts of the state don’t re-invent the wheel • Maximize the interaction of local food systems with existing infrastructure for efficiency and sustainability

  13. Looking to the Future: Your Help We ask the audience to help us with our next steps in the following ways: • Be aware of the emergence of game changers in the system • Work with us – work with any and all who are committed to building the WV food system • Buy local, buy fresh, buy West Virginia!

  14. Thank you! Aggregation & Distribution Working Group Working Group Chair: Jill Young Email: JillGraceYoung@yahoo.com Phone: 304.661.4951

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