Advancing the “Local” Agenda

for

Nevada Farms

Custom Gardens Organic Farm

presents

Making the Consumer - Farm Connection!

3/10/2010 1

Planting the “Buy Local” Seeds• There was a time in Nevada – circa early ‘90s –where people were in

disbelief to learn fresh produce could be grown in Northern Nevada.

Gardens, YES! But commercially?

• Organic? Only in California, right?

• Our first farmers market, a produce stand on highway 95-A was in Silver

Springs, 1991. Convincing people “local” is good!

3/10/2010 2

Out of our comfort zone – taking

the farm to the big city, 1992 +

• At Victorian Square in Sparks: Three producers from NV “local” farms were Custom Gardens

Organic Farm , Mewaldt’s Organics, and Lattin Farms.

• A year later, Carson City Farmers Market started.

3/10/2010 3

Market Locations Growing

More Consumer Awareness in NV• Soon, Carson City Farmers Market started up - followed by other efforts to

“spread the word” and veggies in rural areas. Customers were pleased that

we could grow fine produce in Nevada. We all did our best to push the locally

grown agenda, years before “Buy Local, Buy Fresh” was a buzz!

Mewaldt’s Organics Custom Gardens Farm Our rogue Market in Yerington

Johnsons – Mewaldt’s

& Lattin Farms

Finding other ways to reach the public

3/10/2010 4

Looking into CSA as a direct method to

bring consumer awareness

• 1995; Looking at another way to connect consumers to our farm – a trip

to San Francisco, was an awesome educational experience. We networked

with other farmers who were using the CSA model to expand their farm

sales. Talking to consumers who truly wanted the freshest produce

possible, was encouraging.

• Listening to great speakers, such as local food advocate Alice Waters, and • Listening to great speakers, such as local food advocate Alice Waters, and

rancher Steve Moore, and others from all over the Country, gave us

inspiration and the courage to start our first CSA adventure!

3/10/2010 5

Spring 1996 – The sprouting of the NV

Organic Program 1996

Photo shows some of the

committee members:

Edith Mills, the Mewaldt’s.

Virginia Johnson, and

Gail Munk.

• Following a visit with then NV Assemblyman Joe Dini who agreed to sponsor a bill, an organic steering

committee was formed to work to compare other states, and see how a Nevada Regulation would look.

• Other participants in the endeavor were: Larry and Char Hendrickson, Shirley Sponsler, Jim Boyce, and

NDOA staff Randy Bradley and Peggy Mckie, as well as consumers, other organic advocates, including Susan

Czopec.

3/10/2010 6

Certified Organic becomes a fact for Nevada Producers

in 1997

Spreading the word through newspapers and television:

Organic Certification began in 1998

The first few farms were: #1 Custom Gardens - # 2

Hendrickson’s Washoe Apple Orchard - #3 Mewaldt’s

Organics - and # 4 Churchill Butte Horticulture.

Joe Dini

Introduces AB 77

3/10/2010 7

Our visit from John Tyson Randy Bradley, NDOA

NV Producers Certificate also passed in 97

• Another concept, proposed by the same steering committee, was SB 350, was introduced by Senator Jacobsen.

• It provided a state-wide certification process (through NDOA) for producers of “agricultural products of the soil” to conduct direct sales at farmers markets, retail stores, restaurants and in other venues - without having to obtain added permits, licenses or pay fees in every city or having to obtain added permits, licenses or pay fees in every city or county.

• The bill also exempts producers from certain taxes, and exempts the state or local Health Department fee, as long as the product is in it’s “natural and unprocessed” state.

• This opened a lot of doors, making direct sales less costly for Nevada producers, providing more “locally grown” for Nevada consumers.

3/10/2010 8

Customers are eager to know about

Nevada Farms and what they produce.• Keep promoting yourself - you are your own advertisement!

A display in a market or a mall, even during your off-season, let’s people

know there is a local farm ready to serve up their fresh veggies for their

family meals. Take your farm photos in a binder, or on a display board.

3/10/2010 9

Position yourself to encourage

customers

People want locally grown Nevada Foods. Take your brochures, flyers, business cards

with you and wherever possible, take something they can buy, (seeds you have saved ,

dried farm crafts, value-added products, fresh veggies, your flowers, or even starter

tomato plants). Make a memory, for the consumer – a visual and vocal impression!

3/10/2010 10

Show & Tell – wherever you go or wherever you are,

grow your sales and/or CSA members !

• Promote your CSA with an off-season invitational food

gathering.

• Soup, salad, a crusty loaf of home-made garlic bread and a

carrot cake (your garlic, and your carrots, of course) will leave

a good taste with potential members.

3/10/2010 11

Go where the people gather

• Take your healthy locally grown greens to town; Do a demo

and tasting at a health club. Take Brochures to the doctor’s

office, dentist, or other places where people gather.

• Attend public events sponsored by groups such as Nevada • Attend public events sponsored by groups such as Nevada

Grown, NCFMA, and other organizations.

3/10/2010 12

Bring the people to your farm!

• Satisfied visitors and customers tell others!

• Treat your CSA members and customers to a afternoon at the

farm – show your appreciation for their support!

3/10/2010 13

Invite people to your farm, and educate

them, even if they want to look.

Invite kids, teachers and parents for a spring or fall field-trip to show and tell them

how their food is grown. Teach why locally grown is better for the environment.

Invite a school field trip

What a treat!

Making Corn Stalk Bundles

3/10/2010 14

A Farmers “friends” are everywhere.

• Got helpers? They are not only priceless for what they do. You can bet

they will be talking to everyone in their circle of influence.

Michelle Stephanie Dave Patrick

3/10/2010 15

From 4-H Kids to College Students, & Professionals - We couldn’t

do without them and their “added-value”, on + off farm.

3/10/2010 16

Increasing your sales potential!

• Use your special labels to educate your customers and increase your sales.• Use your special labels to educate your customers and increase your sales.

• Give your customers what they may need to be “chefs” in their own kitchen.

Use and preparation and storage tips, how-to guides, easy recipes, a newsletter

from your farm, to help them through their busy work-a-day routines. They will

appreciate you!

• Don’t forget to thank them for being your customer. A little extra treat,

never hurts! It does not have to be elaborate – a simple token gift will bring

smiles.The final words, next:

3/10/2010 17

Leave a (good) lasting impressionThink ahead , then ask yourself – would I buy that for my family?

• Is my product clean? Today – with all the food scares – we small farmers know – most contaminant possibilities are due to the industrialized, commercial, mega-mile transporting, and long term storage. Use you common sense in the field, cleaning & post-harvest cooling and packaging. (a tip: “vent” it, if using packaging)

• Is my product displayed in the best possible manner?

• For busy customers, can I compete with the lure of the frozen meal fix? We say YES! Make up special “combo packs” with everything needed for the recipe you attach. This allows the cook to prepare a quick meal, not quite like the frozen steamers – but quick enough for your customer to appreciate the time she has saved, to prepare a special lunch or , dinner.

Put on your thinking cap. Harvest the financial reward of selling what you sow – and savor the benefits.

3/10/2010 18

Growing our future

The seed you plant in a youngster’s mind

may one day grow into a farmer!3/10/2010 19

NV Producers Certificate also passed in 97

• Another concept, proposed by the same steering committee was SB 350, was introduced by Senator Jacobsen.

• It provided a state-wide certification process (through NDOA) for producers of “agricultural products of the soil” to conduct direct sales at farmers markets, retail stores, restaurants and in other venues - without having to obtain a permit, license or in other venues - without having to obtain a permit, license or pay a fees in every city or county.

• The bill also exempts producers from certain taxes, and exempts the state or local Health Department fee, as long as the product is in it’s “natural and unprocessed” state.

• This opened a lot of doors, making direct sales less painful and costly for Nevada producers.

3/10/2010 20