Extension and Training Update

Transcription

1 Extension and Training Update Joanna Massey Lelekacs NC Growing Together Extension and Training Coordinator Presentation at the NCGT Research & Extension Symposium NC Arboretum, April 22, 2014 NC Growing Together, a CEFS-led initiative, is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, grant # ncgrowingtogether.org

2 Buyer/Producer Networking What: Round the Table Meetings Meet the Buyer Meeting Why: Training and networking opportunities between buyers representatives and producers. Where & When: Moore County June 2013 Round the Table 7 Producers Sampson County August 2013 Round the Table 6 Producers Lee County February 2014 Meet the Buyer 9 Producers

3 Partner Liaisons at Retail Ready & Related Programs What: Cooperative Extension has been delivering Retail Ready programs to growers across North Carolina. NCGT Lowes Foods (Ariel Fugate) and Foster- Cavinenss (Patricia Tripp) liaisons served on buyer panels at a number of these programs. Why: Training and networking opportunities between buyers representatives and producers. Where & When: Franklin County January Producers Lee County February GAP-ready Producers Gaston County March Producers Piedmont Grown Annual March Producers Meeting

4 Support for NC Farm Schools What: NC Farm Schools are modeled after the original, Piedmont Farm School, and utilize a 6 to 7 month model of classroom and in-field training for new and transitioning producers. Focus of training is the business of farming Whole Farm Planning, Marketing, Record Keeping, Taxes, Insurance, Succession Planning, etc. ~50 Farms attending each program. Why: NC Farm Schools are training new farmers on business skills in farming. This was identified as an opportunity to support existing work that is training growers on comparative market channel analysis. Where: Piedmont, Sandhills, Foothills When: 2014 programs in each area And Farm School Summit in August. NCGT is planning and coordinating a session for existing and past Farm School participants titled: Beyond the Farmers Market

5 Extension Agent Training What: Why: Local Foods Topic Training Annual Extension Conference - Marketing Opportunities for Season Extension (75 attendees) - Local Food Systems Programming: Engaging all Extension Program Areas and Community Resources in a Systems Approach (88 attendees) - The Role of Extension in Enhancing Access to Local Food (75 attendees) Local Foods is a Flagship Program for Cooperative Extension. Baseline training in local food systems, local food access, as well as more focused training such as marketing opportunities, will enhance the capacity of Extension Agents in supporting market connections between producers and mainstream buyers. When: November 2013

6 Proposed Extension Agent Training What: Retail Ready and NC Growing Together Food Hubs In-Service Training District Extension Directors are nominating agents to attend. Why: Food hubs are of growing interest across North Carolina to support mainstream market connections for small and mid-scale producers. Extension has already been involved in the development of numerous food hubs. We plan to provide agents with information on feasibility, best practices, legal structures, financing, and appropriate roles of Extension in start-up and long-term. When: September and October 2014

7 Food Safety / GAPs Training for Producers What: NCGT has partnered with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Cooperative Extension to deliver training and one-on-one support for growers interesting in getting their farms GAP certified. Why: Food safety is a key conversation between a producer and mainstream buyers. Some buyers are requiring food safety plans at the entry point to the relationship, but most require GAPs Certification either initially or to maintain the relationship into the future. Where: Details TBD Generally, focus will be the Ft. Bragg region and areas where Lowes Foods is currently buying or is looking for more local produce. When: TBD late spring, fall 2015 and 2016

8 Group GAP Pilot Project What: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and NCGT have partnered with the Wallace Center and three NC food hubs to implement a Group GAP project in North Carolina. Why: The complex and expensive food safety protocols that have evolved to address public health challenges [to the] food supply chain are a threat to the participation of small and mid-sized farms in local supply chains. In its 2010 annual report, the North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council identified that existing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) guidance and audit regimes were not well-suited to the needs of small-scale, diversified, low-input produce farms. Group GAP models for food safety management may hold the solution. Who: Feast Down East New River Organics TRACTOR When: Training and QMS development begins in 2014 with certifications proposed for 2015.

9 Project Website Contact Information John Day NCGT Military Partnership Coordinator Rebecca Dunning NCGT Project and Research Coordinator Joanna Massey Lelekacs NCGT Extension and Training Coordinator Nancy Creamer NCGT Project Director John O Sullivan NCGT Co-Project Investigator johno@ncat.edu Ariel Fugate Lowes Foods Locally Grown Rep, NCGT Grocery Liaison- Ariel.Fugate@lowesfoods.com Trish Tripp NCGT Wholesaler Liaison - patriciatripp1@gmail.com NC Growing Together, a CEFS-led initiative, is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, grant # ncgrowingtogether.org

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12 Contact / Connections NCGT Partner Exposure to Producers (invited and NCGT sponsored events) 75 Unique Producers 4 New Food Hubs (FDE, OSP, SF2C, TRACTOR, continued relationship with PMP) NCGT/NCCE sponsored Buyer/Producer networking opportunities (Round the Table and Meet the Buyer) 22 Producers