SWFSFN Announcement: Invitation to Support a Food Hub Project in St. Petersburg

Hello, members and supporters of the SW FL Small Farmers Network (SWFSFN).  We are very pleased to let you know how to support a very important project for SW FL, i.e., the initiation of a food hub that will assist you in selling your fresh produce to larger volume local markets.  To this end, below you will find the description and directions to participate in this project from Gail Eggeman, the manager of the St. Petersburg farmers market.

 

If you are interested in such a project, please, take the time now to complete the online survey.  If you know a farmer who may be interested in participating, please, forward this email to them today.  These type of projects need our collective support because they have the potential to be game changers for our farmers of SWFSFN. 

 

Thanks . . . . SWFSFN  UF/IFAS Extension County Faculty Coordinators

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Here is the survey - online for farmers. This is the intro from the survey and the link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/stpetesproducer

 

Fresh Access St. Petersburg is thrilled to be launching a food hub feasibility study with a goal of supporting family farms with sustainable growing practices, providing fair pricing, and providing local foods to the area of St. Petersburg, FL, where currently there is very little.

Food hubs are businesses that help connect small to medium family farmers with consistent and transparent sales outlets including broad line distributors, grocery stores and institutions. Food hubs are being developed across the country at a rapid pace, and are helping sustain, strengthen and expand the operations of family farmers by providing a fair and transparent sales venue and process to farmers.

The food hub could include aggregating and distribution, managing processing to meet safety regulations, distributing, and providing marketing and business assistance to farmers. Help determine the future of this food hub by taking this survey.

This survey will take 15 minutes to complete. Please skip any question or response choice that is not relevant to your specific farm operation. All individual survey responses will be kept strictly confidential. You are not required to provide identifying information about yourself or your operation. Please contact Gail Eggeman at gaileggeman@gmail.com with any questions about the survey or the overall study.

Thank you for your participation. Please forward the survey to others who may be interested.