World Farmers Inc

PURCHASE LAND AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS TO INCREASE CAPITAL AND MARKET ACCESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THEOVERARCHING GOAL OF THISCOOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN USDA AND WORLD FARMERS IS TO SUPPORT SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND OTHER ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AND UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, BY CONNECTING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS IN THE NORTHEAST WITH THE TOOLS, TRAININGS, AND SERVICES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THEIR FARMER BUSINESSES; SUPPORTING FARMERS THROUGH FINANCIAL AND TAX LITERACY; MARKET PLANNING FOR CULTURAL CROPS; EXPANDING UNDERSTANDING AND REPRESENTATION OF CULTURAL CROPS BY WORKING WITH THE USDA TO GET THEM ON THE FEDERAL CROP LIST; PROVIDING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS. OUR WORK INCLUDESTHE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND EVALUATION OF IMPACT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:1. FINANCIAL LITERACY: PROVIDE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED FARMERS OF COLOR IN LEARNING FINANCIAL PLANNING, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND TAX PLANNING THROUGH TECHNICAL SUPPORT, TRAINING, AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT.2. INTRODUCTION TO USDA PROGRAMS: INCREASE AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO THE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AT USDA TO BENEFIT GROWTH OF THE PRODUCERS WHO ARE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED IN FARMING; INCLUDING FARM OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION LOANS AND MICROLOAN PROGRAMS.3. MARKET PLANNING: SUPPORT FARMERS THROUGH MARKET PLANNING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT AROUND SPECIALTY CULTURAL CROPS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS IN THE MARKETS THAT THEY ENGAGE WITH. SIMULTANEOUSLY WORLD FARMERS WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE USDA TO ADD CULTURAL CROPS TO THE FEDERAL CROP LIST- FURTHER PROVIDING CAPACITY AND SUPPORT FOR THESE CROPS.4. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: WORLD FARMERS WILL OFFER TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING TECHNIQUES, AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO THESE SERVICES IS THAT WE OFFER A SAFE SPACE WHERE FARMERS CAN LEARN FROM PEERS. OUR PROGRAMMING ISDELIVERED IN A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CROSS-CULTURAL CO-LEARNING AND MENTORSHIP AMONG FARMERS AND WORLD FARMERS STAFF, WITH WHOM FARMERS HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING. OUR DEDICATED STAFF POSSESS THE EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY REQUIRED TO ASSIST DIVERSE FARMERS IN BUILDING THEIR FARMING ENTERPRISES.WORLD FARMERS, INC., (WF) ADVOCATES FOR AND SUPPORTS IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE, AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED SMALL-SCALE FARMERS FROM FARM TO MARKET. WF MISSION IS TO SUPPORT SMALL FARMERS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND SUCCESSFUL MARKETING PRACTICES TO CONNECT CULTURALLY RELEVANT PRODUCE TO VIABLE MARKETS. WF PROVIDES MENTORING, TRAINING, AND HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE WHEN WORKING WITH EACH FARMER TO BUILD THE CAPACITY NEEDED TO OPERATE INDIVIDUAL FARMING ENTERPRISES. WF ENACTS THEIR MISSION THROUGH VARIOUS INITIATIVES, THE MOST PROMINENT OF WHICH IS THE FLATS MENTOR FARM PROGRAM.SINCE 1984, THE FLATS MENTOR FARM IN LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS HAS PROVIDED THE SPACE AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SMALL IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS TO GET STARTED.PARTICIPATING FARMERS ARE SKILLED PRODUCERS WHO COME FROM AGRARIAN BACKGROUNDS AND SEEK TO MAKE A NEW LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE PRESERVING THEIR CULTURAL IDENTITY. IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SUCCESS IN THE NEW CULTURE AND CLIMATE OF THE NORTHEAST, WF MENTORING PROGRAM OFFERS REGULAR TRAININGS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND MARKETING. ALL PROGRAMMING IS PERFORMED IN A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT OF CROSS-CULTURAL CO-LEARNING AMONG FARMERS, WF STAFF, INTERNS, AND VOLUNTEERS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF WORLD FARMERS' PROJECT IS TO ADVANCE BEGINNING FARMERS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURE SUCCESS OF BOTH NEW AND ADVANCED BEGINNING IMMIGRANT FARMERS' OPERATIONS. WORLD FARMERS WILL PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BEGINNING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS THROUGH OUR FLATS MENTOR FARM PROGRAM, WHICH CURRENTLY SUPPORTS 280 IMMIGRANT FARMERS ACROSS 25 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN. IN ADDITION TO ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WORLD FARMERS WILL FACILITATE FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORING CIRCLES FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE SHARING ACROSS CULTURES. THESE CIRCLES WILL INCLUDE BEGINNING FARMERS FROM OUTSIDE THE FLATS MENTOR FARM PROGRAM, AND FOLDING NEW FARMERS INTO THE FMF FARMING COMMUNITY, ADVANCING EACH TOWARD BUSINESS SECURITY AND FARM OWNERSHIP, AND BUILDING NETWORKS ACROSS IMMIGRANT FARMING COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WORLD FARMERS WILL ALSO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO COMPLEMENTARY COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS AT YOUNGER STAGES IN BEGINNING FARMER PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PROGRAMS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADVANCE BEGINNING FARMER BUSINESSES TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR OPERATION AND DEVELOP LONG-LASTING NETWORKS ACROSS BEGINNING FARMER POPULATIONS.

TO BUILD EACH FARMERS CAPACITY IN MARKET ACCESS, FOOD SAFETY,PRODUCTION, AND RESOURCE ACCESS, RESULTING IN VIABLE SMALL SCALE FARMBUSINESSES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR USDA PROGRAMS

THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT AND BEYOND IS TO MOVE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS ALONG THE BEGINNING FARMER CONTINUUM TOWARD BUILDING SUCCESSFUL FARMING ENTERPRISES AND FULFILLING THEIR DREAM TO OWN AND OPERATE THEIR OWN FARMS AND BECOME A PART OF THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WORLD FARMERS WILL FACILITATE FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORING AND PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BEGINNING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE IN THE NEW ENGLAND CLIMATE, AND TO ULTIMATELY ACQUIRE THEIR OWN FARMLAND. THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE THE 322 IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS ACROSS 25 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN IN THE FLATS MENTOR FARM PROGRAM. WORLD FARMERS AND EACH PROJECT PARTNER ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO BEGINNING FMF FARMERS ALONG EACH STAGE OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY.THIS PROJECT COVERS 10 OF THE BFRDP PRIORITY AREAS: 1-6, 9&10, 14&15; 100% OF THE BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TO SERVING SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGED AND LIMITED-RESOURCE FARMERS; AND IS LED BY AND PARTNERED WITH 100% NGOS, CBOS, AND SAEOS. WORLD FARMERS WILL ALLOCATE 12.4% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET TO OUR PROJECT COLLABORATORS - UMASS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION (6%), LAND FOR GOOD (1.6%), RURAL COALITION (4%), AND THE LANCASTER COMMUNITY CENTER (0.8%) - WHO WILL SUPPORT OUR PROJECT ACCORDING TO THE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF OUR PROJECT. PREVIOUS BFRDP PROJECTS AWARDED TO WORLD FARMERS INCLUDE: PD MARIA MOREIRA, 2015-70017-24102 (STANDARD); AND 2018-70017-28601 PD MARIA MOREIRA, (STANDARD).

WORLD FARMERS' LFPP PROJECT EXPANDING SALES FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS AND INCREASING FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES WILL SUPPORT AND FACILITATE SALES FOR THE 322+ IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS IN OUR FLATS MENTOR FARM (FMF) PROGRAM THROUGH SEVERAL MARKET CHANNELS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WORLD FARMERS WILL INCREASE SALES OF LOCALLY-GROWN CULTURAL CROPS TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND CONSUMERS, INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF CULTURAL CROPS TO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CULTURAL VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, AND OVERALL EXPAND AGGREGATION, PROCESSING, AND DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS TO INCREASE SALE OF LOCALLY- AND IMMIGRANT-GROWN CROPS AND FOOD PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS. BUILDING ON PREVIOUS SUCCESSES AND LESSONS LEARNED, WORLD FARMERS WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY FOSTERING GROWTH OF FARMER CAPACITIES, DEVELOPING NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING THOSE OF VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, REFINING WORLD FARMERS' AND FMF FARMERS' MARKET PROMOTION STRATEGIES BOTH DIGITAL AND PRINT, AND INCREASE ADOPTION OF OUR STATE-ADMINISTERED FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM WIDELY RECOGNIZED BY INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO INCREASE SALES OF CULTURAL CROPS LOCALLY GROWN BY IMMIGRANT FARMERS, FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. OUR OUTCOMES ARE TO INCREASE THE SALES AND PROFITS OF LOCAL IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS WHILE ENSURING EACH FARMER HAS SECURE AND STABLE MARKETS IN PLACE, AND TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO AND SALES OF FRESH, LOCAL, AND CULTURALLY IMPORTANT PRODUCE TO MARGINALIZED CULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.

FARMER-TO-FARMER MENTORING FOR BEGINNING, IMMIGRANT, & REFUGEE FARMERS IN CROP PRODUCTION & MARKETING USING THE EXISTING THIRTY YEAR OLD FL

INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO CONNECT IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS TO USDA

CONNECTING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS

FARM TRANSITION AND BUSINESS PLANNING FOR BEGINNING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FARMERS THROUGH FARMER TO FARMER MENTORSHIP

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

CONDUCT FARMER TO FARMER MENTORING TO BEGINNING, IMMIGRANT, & REFUGEE FARMERS IN CROP PRODUCTION & MARKETING

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

TO OUTREACH <(>&<)> ENGAGE 260+ SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED <(>&<)> SMALL-SCALE VEGETABLE PRODUCERS IN CONSERVATION PLANNING TO MEET CONS ERVATION CHALLENGES <(>&<)> GENERATE CLIMATE RESILIENCE ON SHARED-USE FARMLAND.