Neighbor Loaves

WSU Bread Lab

Regional small grain value chains link local farmers, regional mills, and artisan bakers to consumers looking to support local food systems. Through the rise in popularity of artisan baking and craft brewing, the sector has enjoyed significant growth in the past decade. Identifying as ‘non-commodity’, these value chains prioritize diversified and regionalized markets, high quality grains, long term relationships between stakeholders, fair pricing, and skilled labor. The result is fresh, stone-milled specialty grain products…

Friedman Food Systems COVID-19 Connector

Students at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy launched the Friedman Food Systems COVID-19 Connector (“Connector”), a service learning program utilizing an online platform to match organizations seeking technical assistance in their responses to COVID-19 to Tufts students with corresponding skills and interests….

Oyster Trails

Local Catch Network (University of Maine)

There are a lot of different types of tourism “trails,” from vineyards to bird watching hotspots. Oyster Trails are an emerging concept that combine food, agritourism, and shellfish farming. These trails have existed in the United States since at least the early 2000s, but have proliferated in recent years. Each Oyster Trail is unique, but most can be distinguished by two common features. First, does the Oyster Trail define routes or is it set…

FRESHFARM’s Market Tracker: Methods for Farmers Markets to Collect Sales Data

FRESHFARM

Farmers market managers have significant constraints on their time and resources. The Market Tracker is a Google Sheets database that FRESHFARM uses to collect sales data at the farmers markets that it manages. The Market Tracker can help farmers markets managers collect market data in a standardized way. FRESHFARM has helped other farmers markets use the Market Tracker, and is willing to help others. This document will assist other farmers market managers assess whether the Market Tracker could be valuable…

Virtual CSA Fairs

CSA Innovation Network

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Fairs, events where farmers hold meet-and-greets with potential customers for the upcoming CSA season, largely came to a halt this spring due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings. In response, many farmers and organizations transitioned into online events featuring Facebook sharing of farm stories and farmer meet-and-greets via Zoom. This Innovation Brief highlights the positive outcomes of this unexpected pivot and the ways in which these platforms will be used in…

Format: Innovation Briefs