Planning for a Networked Produce Storage and Aggregation System for the Piedmont Triad Region

Transcription

1 Planning for a Networked Produce Storage and Aggregation System for the Piedmont Triad Region spring 2014

2 Region comprised of urbanized areas, geographically central to the wider rural community.

3 Chronic economic stress is a reality for many residents in the region, and affects rural and urban residents differently.

4 Detroit Reese s Five elements for disaster response:! Media attention New Orleans Sense of urgency coupled with long-range vision Coordinated federal, state, and foundation assistance Emphasis on community hope Focus on the public sector, public investment, public infrastructure, and public pride Source: Reese, L. A. (2006). Economic Versus Natural Disasters: If Detroit Had a Hurricane... Economic Development Quarterly, 20(3),

5 Incubator Farm Programs Processors Farmers and Ranchers Aggregators Distributors Recycling & Composting Restaurants Public Consumption Farmers Markets & CSAs Institutions & Grocery Stores What opportunities exist to grow both the supply and demand for local produce while engaging and involving rural and urban, low-resource and high-capital, and diverse communities in ways that generate individual and community wealth? More specifically, what sectors not currently engaged in local food system efforts hold potential for growing their businesses while contributing to a more robust local food system?

6 Producers relative size of farm Aggregators scale, production area Markets scale of market large grocers and institutions big farms large, national mid-sized grocers and local institutions mid-size farms co-op or locally managed grocers and retail outlets small farms medium, sub-regional small retail and direct restaurant sales micro farms small, regional micro-retail outlets and farmers markets micro, local small direct-to-consumer markets and CSAs Key: existing components development study focus existing and potential distribution channels

7 Guideline #1: Promote Networks and Nodes Guideline #2: Engender Equity and Inclusivity Guideline #3: Plan for Appropriate Transportation Options Guideline #4: Design an Effective Management Plan Guideline #5: Build Appropriately-Sized Cold Storage Facilities

8 Regional Action Plan Goal To promote a regional, decentralized network of cold storage and aggregation enterprises geared toward assisting small-scale producers in engaging with new markets and wholesale buyers and increasing the profitability of a diversity of food and farm businesses. Objective #1! Integrate small-scale, independent local food aggregation and cold storage business support and development into the Piedmont Triad region economic and community development efforts. Objective #2! Facilitate private sector efforts to locate existing and potential sites and facilities for the aggregation and cold storage of local foods. Promote the clustering of food and farm businesses, while also recognizing the economic development potential that small-scale aggregation and storage holds for rural regions of the Piedmont Triad. Objective #3! Build connections between Piedmont Triad local food system efforts and university, cooperative extension, and other partners that can provide ongoing technical assistance and regulatory expertise to food and farm businesses.

9 Who are the stakeholders? Public sector Regional and local development agencies, cooperative extension, public health agencies, county health departments, community colleges Private Industry Industry associations, farmers markets and other retail outlets, distributors, and larger aggregators Non Profits Advocacy, research, and resource organizations, food banks and food access organizations, community foundations

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