HomeMy WebLinkAbout[05b] Farm to School ProjectDATE: May 18, 2011
MEMO TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Cynthia Smith-Strack Municipal Development Group
RE: Farm to School (help, we need a better name)
Background:
As you know we are continuing to work on ‘connecting the dots’ between local producers,
processors, distributors, and end users (schools, colleges/universities, restaurants, institutions)
in an effort to get more products from local establishments to end users in St. Joseph.
Potential speakers for a meeting with producers, processors, distributors, and end users have
suggested collecting background information prior to a general meeting so as to provide
relevant information and begin building a database.
To those ends, I’ve taken the following actions:
1. Compiled database of 70 local producers populated from a vendor list created by the
St. Joseph Food Coop and those listed on the Minnesota Grown website.
2. Email blast with survey link to all 70 producers. Survey attached.
3. Compiled database of 20 local end users.
4. Email blast with survey link to all 20 end users. Survey attached.
Action:
Additional information should be available at the EDA meeting. Also, we REALLY need a name
for this project. Those here in the office have suggested the following – HELP IS NEEDED.
Homegrown Harvest
Local and Fresh from the Midwest
Food for Thought
Going Local
Cultivate Good Taste
Community Cuisine
Food Grown Local to Feed the Yokel
Culinary Cultivation
Move to Local Grown Food
Worth the Earth
Cultivate New Leads
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[SURVEY PREVIEW MODE] St. Joseph Area Market Development Producer's Needs A...Page 1of 3
St. Joseph Area Market Development Producer's Needs Assessment
Exit this survey
Have you supplied products to local outlets such as a school, college, restaurant, or institution?
Yes
No
If yes, to which type of outlet?
Are you interested in growing/producing for any of the following? Select all that apply.
Public or private elementary or secondary school
College/University
Restaurant
Institution
If you have supplied products to local outlets (school, college, restaurant, institution) describe
what worked and what could have been better.
If you have supplied products to a local outlet (school, college, restaurant, institution) did any
distributiors help you get your product from the farm to the local outlet?
Yes
No
As far as you know are requirements for insurance a barrier for you when considering selling to a
school, college, restaurant, or institution?
Yes
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No
As far as you know are food safety requirements a barrier for you when considering selling to a
school, college, restaurant, or institution?
Yes
No
If a non-profit agency could assist you with insurance and/or food safety requirements would you
be interested in selling to a school, college, restaurant, and/or institution?
Yes
No
Are you able to do any grading, washing, and packing of products?
Yes
No
If so, what types of products and what times of the year?
Are you able to deliver to a school, college, restaurant, and/or institution?
Yes
No
If so, how many miles are you willing to drive?
Would you be able to augment what or how much you currently produce if it meant access to the
local school, college, restaurant, or institution market?
Yes
No
If so, what type of local outlet (school, college, restaurant, institution) would you like to access?
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Done
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[SURVEY PREVIEW MODE] St. Joseph Area Market Development End Users SurveyPage 1of 4
Exit this survey
St. Joseph Area Market Development End Users Survey
Do you use locally grown (within 50 miles) products in your kitchen, dining service, etc?
Yes
No
If so, please list the types of products you use.
What steps, if any, have you taken to access locally produced (within 50 miles) food products? If
you have not accessed locally produced food products, what is stopping you from doing so?
What would help you get started with the process of using more locally grown foods in your
kitchen, dining service, cafeteria, ala carte service, etc? (Please select all that apply)
Assistance in identyifying local foods and potential sources
Meeting with famers, suppliers
Local purchasing connections
Taste test plan
Parent/volunteer training program
Other (please specify)
Are there any constraints on food preparation in your kitchen, dining service, ala carte service,
cafeteria, etc that make you disinterested in local products? If so, please explain such constraints.
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[SURVEY PREVIEW MODE] St. Joseph Area Market Development End Users SurveyPage 2of 4
What are your main considerations when developing your menu(s)?
Labor
Student preferences
Customer preferences
Pricing
Nutritional value
Other (please specify)
Are you interested in purchasing the following items from local sources? Please check all that
apply.
Fresh Fruits
Fresh Vegetables
Pre-processed fruits
Pre-processed vegetables
Honey
Grains
Beef
Organic Beef
Grassfed Beef
Pork
Fish
Poultry
Goat
Yak
Dairy products
Spices
Seasonings
Flour
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[SURVEY PREVIEW MODE] St. Joseph Area Market Development End Users SurveyPage 3of 4
Other (please specify)
There are many ways to start using more local food products, have you done or are you interested
in any of the following? Please check all that apply.
I am interested in letting my supplier/distributor know of my interest in local products
I have let my supplier/distributor know of my interest in local products
I am interested in purchasing directly from a farmer
I have purchased directly from a farmer
I am interested in featuring local products at my school, dining service,ala carte service, kitchen,
cafeteria, etc.
I have featured local products at my school, dining service,ala carte service, kitchen, cafeteria, etc.
I am interested in developing seasonal menus or recipes featuring local products
I have developed seasonal menus or recipes featuring local products
Other (please specify)
In your opinion what barriers are there to your ability to use local food products? Please be
specific and thorough.
What are some things that would make it easier for you to purchase local food products?
Is there anything you would like to add or ask?
Done
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