Council For Healthy Food Systems

DISCOVERING SOLUTIONS: A FINANCIAL, REGULATORY AND CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR TEXAS UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND RANCHERS

TX FARMERS CONNECT AND CONSERVE

THE CSA FOR ALL: STRATEGIC MARKETING FOR EQUITABLE CSA EXPANSION PROJECT IS SET TO REDEFINE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) BY ENHANCING ITS INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. HISTORICALLY, CSA PROGRAMS HAVE PREDOMINANTLY ATTRACTED WHITE, ENGLISH-SPEA

BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS OFTEN LACK THE SUSTAINED, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT NEEDED TO TRANSLATEEDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES INTO SUCCESSFUL FARM MANAGEMENT DECISIONS DURING THEIR FIRST TEN YEARS OFOPERATION. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE SUCCESS, RESILIENCE, AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF 20 CATEGORYV BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN TEXAS THROUGH RELATIONSHIP-BASED MENTORSHIP, INDIVIDUALIZEDTECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND STRUCTURED SUPPORT.PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED MENTORSHIP GUIDED BY MENTOR-MENTEE ACTIONPLANS; (2) INCREASE PARTICIPANTS' ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED PRODUCTION AND INPUT MANAGEMENTDECISIONS THROUGH HANEY SOIL TESTING AND INTERPRETATION WHILE EXPANDING AWARENESS AND APPLICATIONOF CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; (3) STRENGTHENPARTICIPANTS' INTEGRATION INTO THE FARMING COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PEERLEARNING, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS; AND (4) EVALUATE CHANGES IN PARTICIPANT KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE,BEHAVIORS, AND CAPACITY TO INFORM FUTURE BEGINNING FARMER PROGRAMMING.BY PROJECT COMPLETION, AT LEAST 16 PARTICIPANTS (80%) ARE EXPECTED TO REPORT INCREASED KNOWLEDGEAND CONFIDENCE, IMPLEMENT BENEFICIAL CHANGES WITHIN THEIR OPERATIONS, MAKE MEASURABLE PROGRESSTOWARD ACTION PLAN GOALS, EXPAND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT NETWORKS, AND REMAIN ENGAGED THROUGHPROGRAM COMPLETION.COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE TEXAS STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD, SOILREGEN, SOUTHERN FAMILY FARMERS AND FOOD SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, TEXAS ORGANIC FARMERS ANDGARDENERS ASSOCIATION, AND DR. KEN MIX WITH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

DIRECT MARKETING MEAT,POULTRY,AND EGGS POSES SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT ARE OFTEN UNADDRESSED. OUR PROJECT,ENTITLED," BUILDING CAPACITY AND DEMAND FOR LOCAL MEAT,POULTRY,AND EGG SALES IN TEXAS THROUGH TRAINING,TECHNICAL SUPPORT,AND CONSUMER MARKETING" WILL CONDUCT STATEWIDE TRAINING FOR CURRENT AND ASPIRING DIRECT MARKET PRODUCERS SELLING MEAT,POULTRY,AND EGGS,PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL,MID-SIZED,AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS SELLING (OR ASPIRING TO SELL) DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER (DTC),AND ASSIST FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN THE PROMOTION OF THEIR PRODUCTS THROUGH A CONSUMER MARKETING CAMPAIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMIZABLE MARKETING MATERIALS. WORKING WITH 12 COLLABORATORS,THE COUNCIL FOR HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEMS (CHFS) WILL HOST A TOTAL OF 15 TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS ON BECOMING "MARKET READY" TO SELL MEAT,POULTRY,AND EGG PRODUCTS DIRECT TO CONSUMERS,INCLUDING LABELING,COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS,REGULATORY ISSUES,AND FARMERS' MARKET BOOTH TECHNIQUES,TRAINING AT LEAST 300 PRODUCERS AND ASPIRING PRODUCERS. WORKSHOPS WILL TARGET HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS,WITH THREE OF FIVE LOCATIONS IN LI/LA COMMUNITIES. FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS,CHFS WILL HOST VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH ROADBLOCKS,ALSO BUILDING A COHORT OF TEXAS PRODUCERS WHO CAN EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. FINALLY,OUR CONSUMER MARKETING CAMPAIGN WILL REACH AN ESTIMATED 20,000 PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS BEYOND THE DIRECT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. OVERALL,THE PROJECT WILL ENHANCE PRODUCER KNOWLEDGE OF DIRECT MARKETING MEAT,POULTRY,AND EGGS,INCREASE DTC SALES AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES,ENGAGE NEW PRODUCERS IN DIRECT SALES,PROMOTE TEXAS ANIMAL PRODUCTS TO CONSUMERS,AND BUILD A COMMUNITY OF PRACTITIONERS FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

CONSERVATION FOR TEXAS BEGINNING FARMERS

HOST FARM TOURS PROMOTING CLIMATE SMART CONSERVATION PRACTICES, FEATURING DEMONSTRATION SITES THAT SHOW THESE PRACTICES IN ACTION IN AN URBAN SETTING.