North Coast Food Web

ON THE NORTH COAST OF OREGON, LOCAL PRODUCERS CONTINUE TO SEEK NEW WAYS TO SUSTAIN AND GROW THEIR OPERATIONS, WHILE CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING TO CONNECT AND INTERACT WITH THEIR FOOD SYSTEM. OVER 100 SMALL SCALE FARMERS, RANCHERS, FORAGERS, AND FISHERS PROVIDE FOOD FOR RURAL NORTH COAST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. THE DEMAND FOR LOCAL FOOD EXCEEDS SUPPLY, AND THE REGION S PRODUCERS STRUGGLE TO ACCESS RESOURCES NEEDED TO SCALE THEIR BUSINESSES.THE NORTH COAST FOOD WEB AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE DESIGNED AN LFPP PROPOSAL FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SMALL FARMS AND FOOD BUSINESSES TO SERVICE CUSTOMERS WITHIN 100 MILES OF ASTORIA, OR. WE WILL ENSURE THAT FARMERS AND FOOD BUSINESSES HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE WILL FORMALIZE OUR COMPREHENSIVE FOOD BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ONE ON ONE SUPPORT FOR THESE EMERGING OPERATIONS. WE WILL GROW OUR KITCHEN INCUBATOR HELPING THOSE INTERESTED IN VALUE ADDED PRODUCTION AND UPGRADE AND EXPAND OUR OFFERINGS AND RESTART A DELIVERY PROGRAM VIA OUR ONLINE FARMERS MARKET TO DRAW IN NEW CUSTOMERS. WE ARE SUPPORTED BY A STRONG NETWORK OF PARTNERS WHO ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR COASTAL COMMUNITY AND HAVE SERVED AS INFORMAL LEADERS, ADVISORS AND PARTNERS FOR THE LAST DECADE. AS WE FORMALIZE AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMS OF THE NORTH COAST FOOD WEB, WE WILL CREATE A MORE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM INCREASING PROFITABILITY AND REDUCING RISK FOR LOCAL FARM AND FOOD BUSINESSES.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

NORTH COAST FOOD WEB WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MARKETING PLAN TO SUPPORT DIRECTTOCONSUMER MARKETS FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND EXPAND THE CUSTOMER BASE FOR LOCAL PRODUCERS. PROJECT DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A MARKETING PLAN WITH AUDIENCESPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONAL BRANDING COLLABORATIVE MARKETING TOOLS COHESIVE MESSAGING STRATEGIES AND MARKETING GUIDELINES FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. DESIGN AND PURCHASE OF DIGITAL AND PRINTED MARKETING MATERIALS WILL INCLUDE A CONTENT CALENDAR TOOL AND PLAN EMAIL MARKETING PLAN AND PRINT MATERIALS. EVALUATION OF MARKETING AND PROMOTION ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE COLLECTION AND SYNTHESIS OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DATA VIA FORMS SURVEYS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH FOCUS AUDIENCES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A 15 INCREASE IN LOCAL PRODUCERTOCONSUMER MARKET ENGAGEMENT ACCESS POINTS EDUCATION ACCESS TO NEW OPERATIONAL METHODS AND PRODUCER PARTICIPATION AND SALES.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.