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Conference News

Can Small Farmers Make a Profit at Farmers Markets?

December 30, 2015 |
Orange Home Grown Farmers' and Artisans Market in Orange, CA. Photo credit Lisa David.

Orange Home Grown Farmers’ and Artisans Market in Orange, CA. Photo credit Lisa David.

The last decade has seen nothing short of a bonanza in farmers’ markets in America. Between 2007-2014, the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. has grown by nearly 180 percent, according to a January 2015 USDA report. That’s accompanied by a 288 percent growth in regional food hubs and 430 percent in farm-to-school programs.

But the data also show that while food hub sales continue to climb, sales at farmers’ markets may have peaked.

So can farmers, especially ones who operate on a small scale, make enough money at farmers’ markets to make it worth their while? Or is the proliferation of farmers’ market we’ve seen over the last decade coming to an end? Read More

From 20 to over 220 Schools, California Thursdays Farm-to-school Program Growing Fast

December 29, 2015 |
Farmer Bob Knight of Old Grove Orange in Redlands, CA. lunching with some satisfied customers. Photo courtesy of San Diego Unified School District

Farmer Bob Knight of Old Grove Orange in Redlands, CA., lunching with some satisfied customers.
Photo courtesy of San Diego Unified School District

It started small, with 20 elementary schools eating fresh local lunch every Thursday. Now, San Diego Unified School District’s farm-to-school menus are being served up at over 220 schools in the district to 132,000 kids. The ultimate goal is to have all 26 million meals a year be fresh, local and made from scratch, and district officials believe it can be done.

“We were able to grow the program rapidly,” says Tara McNamara, marketing coordinator for the district’s Food and Nutrition Services department. “We started last October at 20 elementary schools, and that expanded to 60 by the end of last school year. Now we’ve got 225 at the beginning of this year.” Read More

Tomato Garden Tax Break Gains Approval of L.A. County Board of Supervisors

December 29, 2015 |
Source: Los Angeles Food Policy Council

Source: Los Angeles Food Policy Council

Los Angeles County’s blighted areas and abandoned lots could be seeing more green in the near future.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently approved an Urban Agricultural Incentive Zone Program (also known as a Tomato Garden Tax Break). If implemented, the policy has the potential to transform vacant and privately owned land in the county into urban farms, and help reduce blight and illegal dumping throughout Los Angeles city and county.

In addition to adding more green space, the “tax break” also would create local jobs in urban farming and support food security and access. The details of the program still need to be worked out to make it reality. Read More

Riverside Takes Next Step As Culinary Hub of Inland Southern California

December 9, 2015 |

(Press Release) – RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Riverside is stepping up its culinary game through the development of two new downtown dining destinations — Chow Alley@Courthouse Piazza and the Mess Hall on Market — that will dramatically increase the number of eating options in a downtown area that already has seen a food revolution in the past few years.

“Chow Alley and the Mess Hall will take our budding foodie culture in Riverside to a whole new level,” Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey said. “Downtown Riverside already is a dining and entertainment destination in western Riverside County, and these projects will put us on the map across Southern California.”

Chow Alley@Courthouse Piazza calls for extending the successful Main Street pedestrian mall by closing Main between 10th and 11th streets and creating a piazza for outdoor dining, farmers’ markets, and entertainment in front of the historic Riverside County Courthouse. A dozen eateries operating out of modern cargo containers would fill a renovated outdoor space between the Courthouse and Market Street. Read More

Riverside’s Fox Farm Seeks to Raise Funds to Sustain Its Urban Farming Endeavors

October 16, 2015 |

Scott Berndt of Fox Farm in Riverside, CA

Fox Farm is an urban farm location at Hapemen Ranch, a 2.5 acre orchard with 75 various fruit tree. This farm is completely surrounded by houses and located in the heart of Riverside CA. Farmer Scott Berndt has cultivated about a 1/3 of an acre of vegetables, which he provides to local restaurants in Riverside as well as to the Riverside Unified School District through its Farm-to-School program.

Scott’s goals are to bring a full acre into production, growing various kinds of vegetables that are needed for RUSD and local restaurants. His biggest challenge is growing enough variety to supply restaurants with their entire menu of produce.

Scott’s goal is to acquire and install a walk in cooler on the farm, and grow what he can for restaurants and RUSD. He plans to source the items he does not have available from other local farms, and provide a one stop place for local chefs and restaurant owners to pick up produce rather than have to visit 2-3 farms for their needs.

Scott is currently raising funds to try to obtain a Kiva Zip loan for a walk in cooler. His funding campaign expires in just 7 days and he is 86% funded. Starting today, a benefactor has opted to match the dollars of any loan.

That means with $700 left to be funded, a minimum $25 loan from you is worth $50! Only 14 lenders at the $25 level secures the project! Only 7 lenders at $50! Be proud, this is how real change happens, at the grassroots. We can do this, you can help!

Follow this link: https://zip.kiva.org/loans/16345

Find out more about Fox Farm: http://berndtsplants.blogspot.com/

GrowRIVERSIDE Conference Focuses Local Food System Efforts in Riverside and the Region

June 16, 2015 |
Photo by Robert Puro

Photo by Robert Puro

The 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food, held June 11-13 in Riverside, California, focused on production, new business creation, local food sales and community impact.

These four focuses were brought into sharp relief by numerous speakers and panelists as well as conference-goers, who discussed a wide variety of issues including local food marketplaces, developing urban farms, marketing and distribution, urban indoor farming, crop diversification, climate, farm-to-school, an update on the work of the Riverside Food Systems Alliance, compost management, water usage, and more. Read More

‘Grow Forth’ and Prosper – GrowRIVERSIDE Digs in for the Future of Local Food

June 15, 2015 |
Rodney Taylor, director of Nutrition Services for Riverside Unified School District, speaks at the GrowRIVERSIDE: The Future of Local Food conference. (photo by AJ Hughes)

Rodney Taylor, director of Nutrition Services for Riverside Unified School District, speaks at the GrowRIVERSIDE: The Future of Local Food conference. (photo by AJ Hughes)

“We are an extraordinary city, and we get it done.”

These words were uttered by Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Director of Nutrition Services Rodney Taylor at the beginning of his keynote address on day two of the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food.

Taylor acknowledged the extraordinary progress made since last year’s inaugural GrowRIVERSIDE conference, but pointed out that great amounts of inequity still plague the food system. Read More

GrowRIVERSIDE: A Movement Rooted in Community Seeks to Foster Hardy Local Food System in City

June 15, 2015 |

photo 1At the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food, held last Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13 participants from panelists to keynotes and breakout session leaders repeatedly honed in on the same key ingredient when discussing the development of robust local food systems: community.

And true to this theme, the first day of the conference ended fittingly as conveners partook of local food and beverages amidst an orange grove. Robert Egger, founder and president of L.A. Kitchen, spoke about how fresh fruits and vegetables not only build community, but change lives as well.

True community tends to grow and attract others to its orbit, and GrowRIVERSIDE is no exception, said Al Zelinka, Assistant City Manager for the City of Riverside.

“This is a movement rooted in community and entrepreneurship,” said Zelinka, noting that people came from as far away from Hawaii and east of the Mississippi to attend the event. “A small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world,” he continued, paraphrasing anthropologist Margaret Mead. Read More