Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks

1. Promoting Workplace CSA’s in the Southern Adirondacks Laura McDermott, Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program Teresa Whalen, Adirondack Harvest

2. What we will cover today: • Introduce project partners • Introduce project • What is a CSA? • Why would I be interested in this project? • How will this project benefit my community? • How can I learn more?

3. Cornell University Cooperative Extensionhttp://www.cce.cornell.edu/

4. Cornell Small Farms Program • Funder • Create many guides for new and alternative farmers • Sponsor Beginning Farmer on-line courses • Much more! • http://blogs.cornell.edu/smallfarms/

5. Adirondack Harvest • http://www.adirondackharvest.com/ - envisions a picturesque and productive working landscape connecting local farmers to their communities and regional markets. - goals are to increase opportunities for profitable, sustainable production and sale of high quality food and agricultural products, and to expand consumer choices for locally produced healthy food. - This mission ensures the future preservation and growth of our open farmland while providing a diversity of healthy food products for consumers.

6. Adirondack Harvest activities include: • Rutabaga Festival • Landowner/Farmer match program • Adirondack Harvest cookbook • Farm to Restaurant Distribution System • Farm Fresh Foods Maps • Farmers Market poster

7. Provide educational support for local farms • Educational meetings • Outreach through classes and written articles • Certification training for pesticide application and Good Agricultural Practices implementation • Develop production guidelines for new crops • Troubleshooting • Scout for pests • Field research

8. What is a CSA? • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): • market avenue for local farmers • avoids the “middleman” • consumers purchase shares prior to the season • wide variety of distribution schemes • allows consumers to share in the benefits and risks of farming

9. Benefits to Consumers: • Eat food harvested within 24 hours of delivery – more flavor and vitamins not to mention it lasts longer! • get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking • consumers are encouraged to visit the farm – you get to see how and where your food is grown! • children favor food from "their" farm • develop a relationship with the farmer who is often a part of the community

10. Benefits to farmers: • Redistributes time spent on marketing to the beginning of the season • Pre-season payment allows more cash flow when it is needed • Know the people that eat your food!

11. Variations possible • "mix and match," or "market-style" CSA • members load their own boxes with some degree of personal choice. • extra produce donated to a food bank • CSAs aren't confined to produce. • Options exist for shares of eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other farm products along with their veggies. • non-farming third parties are setting up CSA-like businesses, where they act as middle men and sell boxes of local (and sometimes non-local) food for their members

12. Shared Risk • the idea that "we're in this together" remains. – but varies from one CSA to another • the idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers • most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility to their members – CSA members often get served first

13. Average market value per CSA delivery

14. CSA produce cost compared to other markets

15. Why should I host a CSA? • Offer your employees easy access to local healthy products • CSA’s can be a very convenient way to access locally grown food • Community minded – but your employees are the ultimate beneficiaries • Think of what you would be offering your employees; • Better access to healthy foods • Convenience that will save employees time and fuel money • Providing a very positive activity for employees to be part of outside of work

16. Project goals: • General information about CSA’s will be distributed to 60 businesses and 400 community members. • Guidelines for Employers considering a workplace CSA distributed to 50 businesses and farmers • 10 businesses will send representatives to a general informational meeting about workplace CSA’s • 5 businesses will request a site visit • 2 businesses will host a worksite CSA • 10 local farmers will learn how to incorporate a worksite CSA into their farm marketing plan • Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables by consumers enrolling in CSA will be verified

17. For more information: Laura McDermott CCE CDVSFP 415 Lower Main Street Hudson Falls, NY 12839 518-746-2562 lgm4@cornell.edu Teresa Whalen Adirondack Harvest, Southern Chapter Coordinator Warrensburg, NY 518-466-5497 taawhalen@yahoo.com

18. Thank you! • Erin Krivitski, Program Coordinator Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play Worksite Wellness at the Health Promotion Center of Glens Falls Hospital • SUNY Adirondack, Regional Higher Education Center • Kilpatrick Family Farm – for the photos!