Boston Area Gleaners Inc

THIS PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM THE CAPABILITIES OF FOOD HUBS IN THE REGION,AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR SELLINGREGIONAL PRODUCTS BY BRINGING TOGETHER PRODUCERS,DISTRIBUTORS,FOODHUBS,LOCAL FOOD ENTERPRISES ANDCUSTOMERS INTO A SINGLE NETWORK. THIS NETWORK WILL INCREASE THE VOLUME OF REGIONAL PRODUCE REACHINGCONSUMERS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND WILL CONNECT THE DOTS OF FOOD BUSINESSES ACROSS NEW ENGLAND.PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:1.DEVELOPING ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS IN THE SIX NEW ENGLAND STATES,THEREBY INCREASING THEIR REVENUE.2.REDUCING DISTRIBUTION COSTS FOR NEW ENGLAND PRODUCE THROUGH INCREASED LOGISTICAL EFFICIENCIES.3.CONNECTING REGIONAL PRODUCERS WITH VALUE ADDED PROCESSING CENTERS.EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: INCREASED CUSTOMER EXPOSURE TO A WIDER VARIETY OF NEW ENGLAND PRODUCTS, ADEVELOPING REPUTATION FOR FRESHNESS AMONG NEW ENGLAND BRANDS, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERSBENEFITING FROM SERVING THE BOSTON MARKET, AN INCREASE IN PRODUCER PROFI T,AND A DECREASE IN ON-FARM FOODLOSS.

THE TRADITIONAL GLEANING MODEL USED BY BOSTON AREA GLEANERS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT REDUCING ON-FARM FOOD WASTE, BUT IS LIMITED BY ITS REACTIVE NATURE AND ITS RELIANCE UPON FARMERS CONTINUING TO SUBSIDIZE THE HUNGER- RELIEF SECTOR THROUGH DONATION. OUR BOSTON FOOD HUB PROGRAM, STARTED IN 2018, IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT OUR REGIONAL FARMS BY ACTIVATING AN IN-DEPTH AGGREGATION, DISTRIBUTION, STORAGE, AND MARKETING MODEL THAT FOCUSES ON SYSTEM-WIDE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE THE ECONOMIC RESILIENCE OF OUR REGIONAL FARMS. THIS FOOD HUB IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE SOURCE AND MARKET SURPLUS PRODUCE THAT GROWERS CANNOT SELL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ON-FARM FOOD WASTE. OUR CURRENT FOCUS IS TO INCREASE SALES THROUGH PROPERLY STAFFING OUR SALES AND OPERATIONS TEAMS. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO: CULTIVATE AND FACILITATE REGIONAL FOOD CHAIN COORDINATION IN RURAL AND URBAN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, CREATE NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWERS THAT REDUCE ON-FARM FOOD WASTE, AND INCREASE LOCAL FOOD AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS FOR CONSUMER-SERVING LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. WE INTEND TO REACH 61 PROJECT BENEFICIARIES WHO PRODUCE AND/OR UTILIZE LOCALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. BOSTON FOOD HUB AIMS TO INCREASE CUSTOMERS BY 97% AND SALES OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL PRODUCTS BY 116%. 71 FARMS WILL REPORT AN INCREASE IN REVENUE, AND SEVEN JOBS WILL BE MAINTAINED OR CREATED. IMPORTANTLY, BOSTON FOOD HUB WILL INCREASE THE VOLUMES OF FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE MOVING FROM REGIONAL FARMS TO CONSUMERS BY 1,100,000 POUNDS OVER THE PROJECT PERIOD, EMPHASIZING SERVICE TO LOW INCOME AND LOW ACCESS CONSUMER- FACING FOOD BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

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.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT