Proposed Pilot Projects from the Harvest Against Hunger Area Summits

Potential projects are categorized into four topics:

Resources / Relationships / Infrastructure / Funding

RESOURCES

1.     Host online “Starter Packet” [Wenatchee]:

§  Food Hub or WSDA could host materials for growers to get involved in with how to factsheet and other pertinent hunger relief materials.

§  Likely developed by Harvest VISTA or others organizations to educate and encourage farmer participation.

2.     Nutrition classes [Wenatchee]:

§  Offer classes to food banks clients to educate about specialty crops usage.

§  Partner with WSU Food Sense program (already at active at certain food banks?)

3.     WSDA sponsored “Growers Guide to Donating” [Olympia]:

§  Section on website and handouts for growers.

4.     Food-hub.org as an information disseminator [Olympia]:

§  Online location to store and share electronic information and best practices.

§  Explore possibility of other third party sites.

5.     Develop strategic approaches [Olympia]:

§  This is on the food bank side (WFC).

§  Messaging from hunger relief organizations to produce donors.

6.     Educate students [Seattle Area]:

§  Develop curriculums about how to grow own food.

§  Explore partnerships with Farm to School programs w/ Harvest VISTA.

§  Mandate farm education, like ethno-botany classes.

§  Place volunteers at schools to educate – like 4H clubs.

7.     WSDA could host information on their website about models from HAH/RFH Produce Recovery Resource Guide [Seattle Area]:

§  Best information and practices for gleaning, gardening, plant a row, etc.

§  Use searchable database of info and position paper for Good Samaritan Act.

RELATIONSIHPS

1.     Encourage hunger relief agencies to “adopt a local farm,” explore model [Yakima]:

§  One-to-one connection, NWH Yakima is exploring model.

2.     Farmer focus groups [Olympia]:            

§  Work with growers to better understand motivations of farmers to partner with hunger relief system.

3.     Work with packing houses to increase and improve contact with field managers.

4.     Donor of the year awards.

5.     Encourage new ways for food banks to create relationships with growers [Seattle Area]:

§  Form a coalition so growers don’t get too many touches.

§  Requires one point person.

6.     Explore ways to engage younger potential farmers [Seattle Area]:

§  Educate about relationships between hunger relief and growers.

§  Apprenticeships and partnerships with WSU Extension, Tilth, etc.

7.     Encourage methods for farmers to talk with other farmers for produce donations:

§  Partner with Specialty Crop Commissions?

INFRASTRUCTURE

1.     Cooperate to increases storage efficiencies [Wenatchee]:

§  Create network with local/regional small food banks for distribution and shared storage.

§  Partner with the WSDA warehouses or identify commercial storage spaces (via Food Hub) to increase cold storage opportunities.

2.     Transportation [Wenatchee]:

§  Share and pool resources to increase access to trucks and existing routes.

§  Transportation hubs, like www.getloaded.com

3.     Encourage food banks see themselves as a resource for small growers [Yakima]:

§  Often times face similar problems – i.e., leveraging hunger relief transportation system to help small growers.

RESOURCES & RELATIONSHIPS

1.     Improve “ask” and education to growers for help and partnerships [Yakima]:

§  Advertising and messaging.

§  Public Service Announcement to increase awareness.

RELATIONSHIPS & INFRASTRUCUTURE

1.     Establish a “cull-bin gleaning system,” see below for more information [Yakima]:

§  Harvest VISTA Jackie Beard’s description of project:

2.     Develop pick-up sites for “cull-gleans,” transfer to central distribution point [Seattle Area].

FUNDING/OTHER

1.     Financial incentives to get produce commercially picked for food banks [Yakima]:

§  California Association of Food Banks and their incentive program.