Rain Alliance Inc

SINCE 2018,COMMON GRAIN ALLIANCE (CGA) HAS BUILT A NETWORK OF OVER 80 FARMERS AND GRAIN PROCESSORS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC. TOGETHER AND WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION,CGA HAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL OBSTACLES TO THE GROWTH OF OUR GRAINSHED. WHILE THE REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC IS THRIVING,CONSUMER AWARENESS OF REGIONAL GRAINS AS REGIONAL FOOD IS LOW. FURTHERMORE,MANY GRAIN FARMERS AND PROCESSORS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ENTER LUCRATIVE FARMERS MARKETS AS FULL-TIME VENDORS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PRODUCT VOLUME AND LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE. TO ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS,WE ARE PARTNERING WITH FRESHFARM-THE LARGEST FARMERS MARKET ORGANIZATION IN THE MID-ATLANTIC-TO SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASE THE PRESENCE OF AND DEMAND FOR REGIONAL GRAINS AT MID-ATLANTIC FARMERS MARKETS. THROUGH THIS PROPOSED PROJECT,WE WILL: DEVELOP MARKETING AND BRANDING TOOLS TO EXPAND CONSUMER AWARENESS AND BUY-IN OF REGIONAL GRAINS (OBJECTIVE 1); INCREASE REVENUE FOR GRAIN FARMERS AND PROCESSORS THROUGH NEW DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARKET OPPORTUNITIES,TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,AND FARMER/PROCESSOR CONNECTIONS (OBJECTIVE 2); AND PROMOTE AN EQUITABLE MARKETPLACE FOR REGIONAL GRAINS WITHIN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM FOR CONSUMERS,FARMERS,AND PROCESSORS (OBJECTIVE 3). BY COMING TOGETHER THROUGH THIS PROJECT,CGA,FRESHFARM,AND OUR PARTNERS WILL BE ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF REGIONAL GRAINS AND CREATE A MEASURABLE IMPACT ON SALES FOR GROWERS AND VENDORS WHO INCORPORATE REGIONAL GRAINS IN THEIR PRODUCTS,SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY. THROUGH EXISTING FOOD AND MARKET ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRATEGY,WE WILL SUPPORT A REGIONAL GRAIN SYSTEM THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS,PROCESSORS,AND CUSTOMERS.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP OPPORTUNITY GRANT