philly food share: a partnership and vision plan

Philly Food SHARE:A Regional Resource CenterVision & Partnership Plan

Consultant Team from University of PennsylvaniaLizzie Hessmiller, Katie Olson,

Emily Lehman, Anne Misak, Michael Ruane

Table of ConTenTs

Executive Summary......................................................................2SHARE Food Program..................................................................4What is a “Food Hub”?...............................................................8 Definitions ConstituenciesPrograms & Partners..................................................................14 Warehouse CommercialKitchen UrbanAgriculture ToolLibrary Value-addedProcessing Retail Office PhillyFoodSHAREOrganizationCase Studies................................................................................28

PreparedforSHAREFoodProgram,Inc.ofPhiladelphia,2011.

1Vision & PartnershiP Plan

exeCuTive summary

The following presents a strategic plan for SHARE, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia dedicated to food distribution, education and advocacy. It was prepared by graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania as part of the Community and Economic Development Practicum course in the Master of City Planning program.

The goal of this semester-long project was to assist SHARE in envisioning its operations as a food hub and exploring potential partnerships for the hub’s programs. Working with SHARE, our team documented the capacities, strengths and weaknesses of SHARE’s current programs, staff and facilities. We developed possible scenarios to organize this work as a food hub, including existing and potential partnerships. We also researched other food hubs in North America, traveling to Toronto, Ontario to visit model sites. This research, along with other case studies, is included at the end of this document.

Our team determined that SHARE has the potential to become part of an increasing number of food organizations in the U.S. and Canada dedicated to addressing food insecurity in multiple ways such as food distribution, food production, value-added food processing, health education and related business enterprises. The model we have outlined for SHARE in the following pages is that of a regional food resource center – a fresh, more specific take on the food hub concept.

2 Philly Food ShARE: A REgionAl RESouRcE cEntER

We believe that as a regional food center, SHARE can focus on three distinct constituencies – growers, processors and eaters – through complementary activities. The programs suggested, including a warehouse, commercial kitchen, value-added processing, urban agriculture, tool library, retail and office space, speak to the needs of one or more of these groups.

To build these programs, SHARE must engage with other organizations committed to food-related work. The partners suggested in this document do not represent an exhaustive list; rather, they are meant to paint a picture of potential collaboration.

Our hope is for SHARE, joined with these potential partners as a regional food center, to fulfill its mission in greater capacity – allowing growers, processors and eaters to “do good, feel good, eat good.”

KatieOlson EmilyLehman AnneMisakLizzieHessmiller MichaelRuane


SHARE Food PRogRAm

The SHARE Food Program of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, first opened its doors in 1986. SHARE initially served 50 host organizations through one program, the SHARE food package program. The core of SHARE’s mission is to promote self-sufficiency and community empowerment by providing people with access to healthy, nutritious food in return for service in their neighborhood, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Broadly speaking, SHARE distributes thousands of pounds of food each month to a regional network of individuals, food cupboards and host organizations such as schools, community centers, churches and senior societies. These host organizations subsequently deliver food packages to participating residents in the community.

organizaTional baCkground


CurrenT Programs

Today,SHAREprovidesnutritiousfoodtoanetworkof550foodcupboardsand250hostorganizationseachmonth.SHAREnowservesastheleadagencyinPhiladelphiaCountyfortheStateFoodPurchaseProgramandTheEmergencyFoodAssistanceProgram(TEFAP),whichutilizestateandfederalfundingtoprovidefoodeachmonthtofoodcupboardsinPennsylvania.SHAREalsodistributesbelow-retail“packages”offoodtohostsitesinPennsylvania,NewJersey,Delaware,MarylandandmetropolitanNewYork.

In addition to providing food packages and emergency food relief, SHARE has incorporated acommunity garden at its warehouse and started to administer Philadelphia’s Farm to Familiesprogram.NiceRootsFarmhasbecomeanopportunitytoincludelocally-grown,freshfoodinSHARE’sfoodpackagesandofferresidents inthesurroundingcommunity increasedaccesstoavarietyofalternativehealthyproduce.NiceRootsFarmcontinuestoexpandeachyearandrecentlyaddedtwohightunnelswhichallowSHAREtoproducefoodfor10monthsayear.ThegardenhelpsSHAREeducate volunteers and communitymembers on the process of growing food. SHARE is currentlyworkingwiththePhiladelphiaHorticulturalSocietytoencouragehomeownersandhostorganizationstocreatetheirowngardens.

For the past two years, SHARE has also partnered with St. Christopher’s Foundation toadminister a new fresh foodpackageprogramdirectedat disadvantaged communities inNorthPhiladelphia. The Farm to Families program provides fresh, healthy produce to low-incomefamilies eachweekata subsidizedprice. Farm to Familiesboxesare soldat ratesof$10and$15,eachfilledwithproduce thatwouldordinarilybeprohibitivelyexpensiveatgrocerychainsand farmers markets. The program currently serves approximately 500 families each month.

Mission stateMentThe SHARE Food Program is a nonprofit organization serving a regional network of community organizations engaged in food distribution, education and advocacy. SHARE promotes healthy living by providing affordable wholesome food to those willing to contribute through volunteerism.


moving forward

With over 25 years of experience improvingfoodaccessintheMid-Atlanticregion,SHAREhasbuiltlastingrelationshipswithhostorganizations,volunteersandconsumers.Betweenthehostsitesandfoodcupboards,SHAREdistributesfoodtoover1,000locations.Inadditiontohostorganizations,SHAREalsoboastsapassionatecontingencyofvolunteers and volunteer organizations. SHAREhasforgedcommittedrelationshipswithavarietyof individuals,communitygroupsandcorporatefoundationswhichprovidetheorganizationwithaconstantstreamofvolunteerservicetoimplementitsprograms.

Farm-to-FamiliesboxespackedfordeliveryatSHAREWarehouse

Thepassion of SHARE’s staff has sustained thiscommitment to community engagement andvolunteerismovertime.After20yearsofleasingaportionofitswarehouse,SHAREpurchasedtheentirebuilding.LocatedintheHuntingParkWestneighborhood of Philadelphia, the 136,050squarefootwarehouseoffersconvenientparkinglotaccesswithspaceformultipletractortrailerstoloadandunload–difficulttofindinanurbanenvironment. Thewarehouse is located just onemilefromUSRoute1,providingexcellentaccesstotruckingroutesintheregion.

The acquisition of the warehouse providesSHAREwithatremendousopportunitytoexpandprogramming and build partnerships in pursuitof its mission. New designs for the warehousewere created through a charrette hosted bythe Community Design Collaborative and theDelawareValleyGreenBuildingCouncilinMay2011. The process helped SHARE envision thewarehouse’spotential to increase theefficiencyof food distribution and to support additionalfoodaccess, urbanagricultureandeducationalopportunitiesintheregion.

SHARE’scurrentorganizationalmodelisalignedwiththeU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’sdefinitionofa“foodhub,”emphasizingtheabilitytomoveproduce from growers and processors to themarketplace.SHARE isevolving towardsaself-defined“regional foodresourcecenter”model.Under this model, SHARE will serve three keyconstituencies–growers,processors,andeaters– not only by aggregating and distributingfood, but providing physical tools for farmers,space to create value-added products forsmallentrepreneursandeducationtoconsumersthroughouttheMid-Atlantic.


WHAt iS A Food Hub

Among food access advocates, the terms “food hub” and “community food center” are used somewhat interchangeably. In fact, “food hub” speaks more to the aggregation and distribution of food. “Community food center,” in observations made for this report, more accurately describes a destination where consumers can obtain food, interact with food through cooking and garden demonstrations, and gain awareness of the role of food in their lives.

food Hub vs. CommuniTy food CenTer


definiTions

Foodhubsandcommunityfoodcentersoftenworktowardsacommongoalandstriveforafuturewherethereisnofoodinsecurity;however,eachapproachestheproblembydifferentmeans.

food HubsaredefinedbytheUSDAas,“Acentrallylocatedfacilitywithabusinessmanagementstructurefacilitatingtheaggregation,storage,processing,distribution,and/ormarketingoflocally/regionallyproducedfoodproduct.”Thisstructurefocusesontheabilityofthegrowersandprocessorstomovetheirproducefromthefarmtothemarketplace.Manysmallfarmersdonothavethecapitaltoaccesswarehousespaceandvalue-addedfacilities.Tothatend,foodhubsserveasacriticallinkinthesupplychainbygivingfarmersandprocessorsaccesstoinfrastructuresuchasrefrigerationunits,drystorage,marketingtoolsandlargetrucksforareducedprice.Becausethefarmerspaylesstogettheirfoodtothemarket,consumersultimatelypaylesstobuyhealthy,localfood.Lowprices,inturn,helpsmallandmedium-sizedgrowersremaincompetitiveandstayinbusiness.

USDA Food Hub

Aggregation

Distribution

Processing

StorageMarketing


CommuniTy food CenTersfocusmoreonprogramsforfoodconsumers.Communityfoodcentersbringpeopletogetherthroughactivitiesfocusingonfood;programscenteroneducationandadvocacy.Theeducationcomponentmayincludenutritionclasses,cookingdemonstrationsandteach-inggardens.Theadvocacycomponentnotonlyaddressesfood insecurity issues in thecommunity,butoffersthosecomingtothecommunityfoodcenterresourcesforassistanceinotherareasoftheirlives.Thoughcommunityfoodcenterscanalsoincorporateaggregation,distribution,marketingandotherservicesforgrowersandprocessors,inthismodelitisequallyimportantthattheeaterbenefitdirectly.

Creatingadistinctionbetweenfoodhubsandcommunityfoodcentersalsodistinguishesthreegroupsofconstituentsinvolvedwithfood–growers,processors,andeaters.Theextenttowhichoneormoreofthesegroupsisservedhelpsdefineafoodorganizationasmoreofafoodhuborcommunityfoodcenter.

The strategic plan outlined in the followingpages pushes SHARE in the direction of acommunity food centerby focusingonall threeconstituents through various activities. However,one of SHARE’s greatest strengths is its broadreachacrosstheMid-Atlanticregion.Thetitleof“regionalfoodresourcecenter”betterdescribesSHARE’spotentialinfluence.

Thekeycomponentsofaggregation,distribution,educationandprocessingaredistilled intonewprograms.Tobuildtheseprograms,SHAREisin-terestedincreatingpartnershipswithotherareaorganizations.Suggestedpartnersarethereforeincludedinthisplan.Partnerorganizationswouldbenefit from shared staff, including a facilitiesmanager, a produce buyer, a maintenance su-pervisor,avolunteercoordinatorandadirectorofdevelopment.Havingasharedstafftoman-agecommonresourcesandtasksbenefitsallthepartnerorganizationsandstrengthenstheentiregroup’sopportunityforfundingbydemonstratingofficial collaboration.Ultimately,SHAREand itspartnerscanformanewnonprofitcalledPHilly food sHare: a regional resourCe CenTer asanumbrellaorganizationhostingandcoordi-natingthesenewprograms,aswellasthesharedresourcesandstaff.

Community Food Center

Education

Awareness

Growing

AccessCommunityEngagement


sHare’s ConsTiTuenCies

Whereasafoodhub,bytheUSDAdefinition,offersresourcesforgrowersandprocessors,a community food center serves growers,processorsandeaters.WebelievethatSHAREshouldfocusonallthreeoftheseconstituenciesthrough complementary activities. Uniquelypositioned in the Mid-Atlantic, SHARE willprovide programming as a regional foodresource center. The programs suggested,including a warehouse, commercial kitchen,value-added processing, urban agriculture,tool library, retail and office space, speaktotheneedsofoneormoreofthesegroupsthroughoutthegreaterarea.

GrowersTo better serve growers, SHARE can use itswarehouseasacriticallinkintheregionalfoodsupplychain.Theemphasisisonobtainingcheaperfood for eaters while offering local growersaccess to Philadelphia’s large urban market.Programs/services SHARE can providewith thehelpofpotentialpartnersincludeaggregation/distribution, storage, grower education, urbanagricultureandatoollibrary.

Programs/serviCes:• Aggregation/Distribution• Storage• GrowerEducation• UrbanAgriculture• ToolLibrary

PoTenTial ParTnersFairFood,FarmtoCity,LancasterFarmFreshLocalretailers,Mariposa,PennStateExtensionPennsylvaniaAssociationforSustainableAgriculture,PennsylvaniaHorticulturalSocietyPhiladelphiaOrchardProject,RegionalgrowersUrban farms and gardens, Urban NutritionInitiative,W.B. SaulHigh School ofAgriculturalSciences,Weaver’sWay

Community Food Center

Education

Awareness

Growing

Access

Community

Engagement

USDA Food Hub

Aggregation

Distribution

Processing

Storage

Marketing

Grower

Processor

Eater


ProcessorsSHAREcansupportfoodprocessingbyofferingentrepreneurs the opportunity to create value-addedproducts. SHARE canalso provide localfood cooperatives with space to buy in bulk,relabeltheproductsandcreatedaPhiladelphia-area “brand.” Programs/services SHARE canprovidewiththehelpofpotentialpartnersincludevalue-added processing and a commercialkitchen.

eatersSHAREcanfocusontheeaterbyofferingservicesrelated toeducationandadvocacy.Programs/services SHARE can provide with the help ofpotentialpartnersincludenutritioneducationandcooking classes, community meals, a teachinggarden, on-site food retail and advocacyoffices.

Programs/serviCes:• Value-Added• CommercialKitchen

Programs/serviCes:• NutritionEducation & CookingClasses• CommunityMeals• TeachingGardens

PoTenTial ParTnersWinterSunFarmsArchdioceseofPhiladelphiaNutritionalDevelopmentServicesMAFCAMariposaWeaversWayLocalEntrepreneur

PoTenTial ParTnersAdvocacyagencies,ArchdioceseofPhiladelphiaCommunity, Department of Health and HumanServices,FairFoodsFarmStandFarmtoTabledinners,GreenbusinessesHealthPromotionCouncil,MariposaNiceRootsFarm,PennStateExtensionPennsylvaniaHorticulturalSocietySundaySuppers


PRogRAmS & PARtnERS

SHARE becomes Philly Food SHARE: A Regional Resource Center by gathering potential partners and using its warehouse space to build and accommodate new programs. These programs speak to the needs of all three constituencies - growers, eaters and processors.

PHilly food sHare


ProjectedtimelineforthedevelopmentofPhillyFoodSHAREprograms

TheprogramsthatfollowaredescribedindetailasfuturescenariosoperatedbyPhillyFoodSHARE.An important note is that theyappear inanorder representing themost logicalprogression forSHAREinitsevolutiontowardsPhillyFoodSHARE.Warehousingisfirst,asitisascaledupversionof the services SHARE currently provides. The next activities – commercial kitchen, value-addedprocessing,urbanagriculture,toollibrary,retailandofficespace–reflectthelikelihoodofreceivingexternalfunding,andshouldbecorrespondinglyprioritized.Atimelinereflectingthisprioritizationispicturedabove.

develoPmenT of PHilly food sHare

Philly Food SHAREa regional resource center

January2012

January2013

January2014

January2015

January2016

Shared warehouse operational Full rental of warehouse

Philly Food SHARE Warehouse Kitchen operational

Commercial KitchenKitchen operational

Value-added ProcessingLending begins

Tool library

New market opens

Retail

Office

Expansion to Rooftop begins Rooftop Garden Completed

Urban Agriculture


ParTner roles

Sharing of capital resources and theaggregation of regional produce provideopportunitiesforco-opsincludingWeaver’sWay andMariposa to access products atthe proper price points. These co-ops andsmallproducerssuchWinterSunFarmswillutilize the shared distribution system andcooledstorage.

To enhance the Philadelphia food system andbetter facilitate the movement of goods fromregional producers to consumers, Philly FoodSHARE will leverage its warehouse space toserve as a coordinated aggregation, storageanddistributionhub.Partneringwithavarietyoflocal producers, institutions and co-ops, SHAREwill improveaccess toproductsatproperpricepoints.

This co-location and partnership betweenorganizations is meant to overcome thechallenges in thestructureof thecurrentsystemwhichbenefitsthebulkbuyer.Highfreightcosts,expensive capital costs for trucks, warehouseequipmentandcoolerspace,combinedwiththeinability to access products at low cost, havelimitedtheabilityofnonprofitsandco-opsinthePhiladelphiaregiontogrow.

Philly Food SHARE will involve the sharingof capital resources such as dry and cooledwarehouse space, truckingbays, lifts, jacksandbox trucks. In addition, those partners rentingspace at Philly Food SHARE will also pay fora shareof thewarehouseoperations staff. Thisinnovativeapproachtocombiningresourcesand

sPoTligHT: foodsHareFoodShare, a Toronto based distributioncenter provides fresh, healthy produceto local institutions and families. Utilizinga buying club type structure to increasevolumesandminimizeprices,FoodShareisabletohelpmanynon-profits,schools,andfamiliesgainaccesstootherwiseexpensiveproduce.FoodSharealsosubsidizesthecostof the staff,warehouse rent,anddeliverycostsbyacceptinggenerousdonationsandgrants from the public, governments, andfoundations. Contact:KatieWilloughby 90CroatiaStreet Toronto,ONM6H1K9 416363-6441 [email protected] www.foodshare.net

staffisintendedtoincentivizetheco-locationandcooperation of diverse food organizations forthebenefit of not only individual organizationsbutthefoodsystemasawhole.

Local co-ops, nonprofit institutions and smallentrepreneurialprocessorswillutilizethesharedresourcesattheSHAREwarehouseatafractionof the cost, compared to providing the capitalresourcesindividually.Inaddition,co-locationoftheseorganizationswillbenefitthePhiladelphiafood system by the added synergy andcooperationbetweendiverseorganizations.

Theincreasedcapitalcapacityaswellassharedstaff capacity will open up new horizons forparticipating organizations. These opportunitieswill translate intomoreefficientandexpandedoutreachinprogramming.Thedecreaseinpricepoint provided by bulk purchasing will ensurethat volumes canbe further increased to allowprograms to expand and reach more hungryfamilies.Thesupport for local foodco-opsandco-locating value-added processors will alsocreatenewopportunitiesfor localfoodidentityandhelptostrengthenanalternativemarketforhealthyfoodproducts.

wareHouse


Tobeginprovidingconsumereducation–betterserving the “eater” constituency – Philly FoodSHAREwill build and run a community kitchen.PhillyFoodSHAREwillusethecommunitykitchentooffernutritioneducationandcookingclassesto the surrounding neighborhood, prepare thecommunitymealsalreadyofferedatSHAREbyapartnerorganizationandgeneraterevenuebyrentingthespacetolocalfoodcooperatives.

SHARE already recognizes that increasingtheir constituents’ consumption of healthy foodgoes beyond providing affordable food. Andimportantcomponentoffoodaccess isensuringthat the recipients of Philly FoodSHARE’s foodbothknowhowtocookthefoodandunderstandthefood’snutritionalvalue.

CommerCial kiTCHen

...to support families in their efforts to prepare meals and eat together...

sPoTligHT: greensgrowGreensgrow is a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization dedicated to developmentin economically distressed neighborhoodsthrough the creation and operation of asociallyconsciousandsustainableagri-businessenterprise. In addition to its successful CSAprogram, commercial farm, retail nurseryandfooddistributionbusiness,Greensgrowoperatesashared-usecommercialkitchen,whichitbuiltatanearbychurch.ThekitchenisusedbothbyGreensgrow to produce value-added foodsfrom farm fresh produce for its CSA shares,and by community food entrepreneurs andorganizations.

Contact:MarySetonCorboy 2501E.CumberlandStreet Philadelphia,PA19125 [email protected]

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ParTner rolesSHAREispresentlyprovidingSundaySuppersofficespace;SundaySuppersprogrammingtakesplaceattheWestKensingtonMinistry.Withanon-sitekitchen,PhillyFoodSHAREwill offer Sunday Suppers a permanenthome.ThemealswillbepreparedinPhillyFood SHARE’s kitchen, and served in itsfacility.

With a community kitchen, SHARE will inviterecipients of the Farm to Families boxes toweeklycookingdemonstrations.Membersofthesurrounding North Philadelphia community willalso be invited to attend. The cooking classeswilldemonstratewaysofcookingtheparticularweeks’ produce, and send participants awaywith the written recipes to recreate at home.In addition, the classes will emphasize theimportanceofnutrition.

The community kitchen will also allow PhillyFoodSHARE to support families in their effortsto prepare meals and eat together. SHARE iscurrently incubatingastartupnonprofit,SundaySuppers,whichservessuppercomprisedoffreshvegetables, proteinand fruit –andeliminatingprocessedfoods.Participatingfamiliesaregiven

theirowntable,andprovidedwithconversationstarters toencourage interaction.At theendofeachsupper,thefamiliesaregiventheingredientsofthemealandtherecipe.

SHARE has been in contact with local foodcooperatives that would like to offer theirmembership the opportunity to takeworkshopson food preparation, but lack the facilities. Acommunitykitchenrepresentsapotentialsourceof revenueforPhillyFoodSHARE.Foodco-opscould rent Philly Food SHARE’s kitchen, takingadvantageofthekitchenequipmentandadjacentclassroomspace in thebuilding.Theco-opswillcharge their membership a fee for workshopson preparing or preserving food; Philly FoodSHARE,inturn,willearnnewincome.

Trainees prepare lunch in thekitchenatTheStopinToronto


Philadelphiacurrentlylacksacomprehensive,city-widesupportsystemforurbanagriculture.Thereareanumberoforganizationsthatprovideoneormoreaspects–materials,training,workshops,landtenure,etc.–buttheyonlyreachasubsetofgrowers.Acoordinated,city-widesystemwillincreasefood security and fresh foodaccess inmany Philadelphia neighborhoods. This new collaborativemodel,housedatPhillyFoodSHARE,willprovidetraining,start-upmaterials,equipmentandongoingtechnical assistance to community gardeners, entrepreneurial farmers and institutions in order toincreasetheamountoffresh,healthyfoodinallPhiladelphianeighborhoods.

Theurbanagriculturesupportsystemhasanumberofcomplementarycomponents.Themainfocuswillbeeducatingnewgrowersandgivingthemthesuppliestostartacommunitygardenorfarm.Partnerswillworktogethertocontinuerunningtheirsuccessfuleducationprogramsandworkshops.Atleastsomeoftheseprogramsessionswilltakeplaceinthenewindoorandoutdoorclassrooms

urban agriCulTure

A coordinated, city-wide system will increase food security and fresh food access...

TheGlobalRootsGardenatTheStopinToronto

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ParTner roles

Philly Food SHAREwill workwith partnerssuch as the Pennsylvania HorticulturalSociety(PHS),PhiladelphiaOrchardProject(POP),PennStateAgricultureExtension forPhiladelphiaCounty,FairFood,PennsylvaniaSustainable Agriculture Association (PASA)andotherstocreatethiscollaborativeurbanagriculture support system. PHS and PennState will work together to expand theirsuccessful garden training programs. PASAwillhelpwithsustainableagriculturetechnicalassistance.POPwillcontinuetoserveasthemain resource for urbanorchardsandwillgrow fruit trees in the Philly Food SHAREgreenhouses.

atPhillyFoodSHARE.Oncegrowershavetakenclasses or workshops, they will have access togarden starter kits. The kits will include all thematerialsnecessarytoinstallraisedbeds-lumber,soil, transplants/seeds, stakes, etc. Thepriceofthestarterkitswillbeonaslidingscale,basedonabilitytopay,sothatlower-incomecommunitieswillhaveequalaccesstosupplies.

In addition to the classes and garden starterkits, the urban agriculture support system willprovide technical assistance, marketing training

and seedlings to both new and experiencedgrowers across the city. This will ensure thatgardensandfarmshavethecontinuedsupporttheyneedtokeepgrowinghealthyfoodeachyear,particularlyat foodcupboards thatarelargelydependentonvolunteerlabor.

TheNiceRootsFarmthatSHAREcurrentlyrunswillcontinuetooperateandwillexpandtotheroofofPhillyFoodSHARE’sbuilding.NiceRootsFarmwillincreasetheamountoffoodproducedforPhillyFoodSHAREandFarmtoFamiliesboxes,

sPoTligHT: global rooTs gardenTheStopCommunityFoodCenterinToronto,ON,Canada “strives to increase access to healthyfood in amanner thatmaintains dignity, buildscommunity and challenges inequality.” One oftheir programs, theGlobal RootsGarden, is ademonstrationgardenwhoseplotsaredevotedto the large ethnic communities in Toronto. ThegardensgrowfoodfamiliartothoseethnicgroupsinordertoshowthatfoodfromotherpartsoftheworldcanalsobegrowninToronto.Thegardensaretendedbyseniorsandyouth,mostofwhomarenewimmigrants.Theymeetonceaweektowork in the gardens, cook meals together andsharestoriesabouttheirhomecountriesandthefoodtheygrow.

Contact:LizCurran 601ChristieStreet,Studio181Toronto,ON.,M6G4C7 [email protected]

aswellassellfoodtotheaggregationpartners.Itwillalso continue toactasaneducation toolto show constituents how fruits and vegetablesaregrown.Withtheexpansiontotheroof,PhillyFoodSHAREwillhavedemonstrationgardensforhowtogrowfoodsfromthediverseculturesofitsconstituents.PhillyFoodSHAREpartnerswillalsohavespaceforgreenhousesandhightunnelstosupportafruittreeandseedlingnursery.


In partnership with other leading urban agriculture organizations in Philadelphia, Philly FoodSHAREwillestablishtheAgriculturalToolLendingLibrarytoaddresstheneedforgreateraccesstofarmtoolsandequipmentatmoreaffordablepricesamongPhiladelphia’surbanfarmersandgardeners.TheLibrarywilloperateoutofthethree-baygaragelocatedonthewesternedgeofthePhillyFoodSHAREpropertyalongHenryAvenue.Thegaragewillbe renovated to includebuildingupgradesasneeded,acustomer/check-inarea,securestoragespace,andnewgaragedoors.Equipmentalreadyownedbyfoundingpartnerorganizationswillbecontributedin-kindtostarttheLibrary.Initialgrantfundingwillbeusedtopurchaseadditionalequipmentandforcapitalimprovementsofthegarage.

Membershipwillbeopentoorganizationsandindividuals.Annualslidingscalemembershipfeeswillbeusedtosubsidizeadditionaltoolpurchasing,maintenanceandstaffcosts;however,othersourcesoffundingwillneedtobesecuredtomeetbudgetneeds.Basictoolsmaybeborrowedasrequestedandavailable.Formoreadvancedtoolsandequipment,membersmustdemonstratecompetencypriortoborrowing.ThosewithoutskilledknowledgewillbeabletoenrollintrainingcoursesofferedbyLibrarystaffandvolunteers.

Tool library


ParTner roles

Leading urban agriculture organizationssuch as the Pennsylvania HorticulturalSociety,PennStateExtensionandWeaversWay can partner with SHARE to establishthelibraryandapplytoforinitialfunding.Oncethelibraryisinoperation,otherurbanagricultureorganizationssuchasMillCreekFarm, the Philadelphia Orchard Project,Teens4GoodandWalnutHill CommunityFarm,aswellasindividualurbangardeners,can become members of the Library andborrowtoolsasneeded.

sPoTligHT: susTainable agriCulTure Tool lending libraryIn2010,agroupoftenfarmersinNorthCarolinaformedacooperativetoollibrarytosharethecostsofpurchasingagriculturalequipment.Thecooperativewas startedwitha$30,000grantfromtheRuralAdvancementFoundationInternational(www.rafi.org).Yearlymembershipfeesgotowardsfuturetoolbuying,insurance,andmaintenanceoftools.Thereisnopaidstaff;instead,membersareassignedtodifferentmanagementpositionssuchatreasurer,secretary,etc.EquipmentreservationsaretrackedonasharedGooglecalendar.Sharedequipmentincludes:amulchlayer,vacuumsealer,handseeders,discharrow,tillagetools,bushhog,manurespreader,trailer,pressurewasher,woodsplitter,fencepostaugerandbedder.

Contact:Lil’FarmGeorgeO’Neal1215ArthurMinnisRd.Hillsborough,[email protected]

FarmequipmentatSustainableAgricultureToolLendingLibrary


In order to create a space to incubate small food processing businesses and better serve the“processor”constituency,PhillyFoodSHAREwillbuildacertifiedcommercialkitchenusedforvalue-added processing in its building. The value-added activities in the kitchenwill build a healthycommunitythroughbusinessopportunitiesandaccesstohealthyfood. Thevalue-addedprocessingkitchenwillprovidespaceforlocalentrepreneurstorenttoperformprocessingactivitiessuchaswash-chop-bagging,canning,labeling,anddehydrating.Entrepreneurswillrentthespacetomaketheirproductssafelyandlegally.Usingacertifiedkitchenallowstheseentrepreneurstoselltheirproductsatfarmersmarketsorlocalgrocersandexpandtheirmarket.

Additionally,localfarmersandfoodorganizationswillusethespacetotransformunmarketableproduceintovalue-addedproductssuchassaucesandsoups.FlashfreezingproduceforwinterCSAswillbepossible in the space, thusexpanding thewinterCSAmarket toPhiladelphia. It is

value-added ProCessing

...build a healthy community through bussiness opportunities and access to healthy food.

Greensgrowpreserveproductsforsaleatmarket

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ParTner roles

SHARE will offer use of the value-addedequipmentinthecommercialkitchentosmallbusinesses and local entrepreneurs, includ-ingWinterSunFarms,theMidAtlanticFoodCooperative Association and its members,particularlyMariposaandWeaversWayinPhiladelphia, communitygroups, communitygardensandlocalfarmers.

necessarytohaveafreezingfacilitynearthefarmswherethefruitisharvested,becausethefruitmustbefrozenwithinhoursof itsharvest.Establishingaregionalprocessingplant inPhiladelphiawill allowprocessors organizingwinterCSAs to harvest produce fromwithin Philadelphia’s 100-milefoodshed.PhillyFoodSHAREwillgivewinterCSAprocessorsthespacetheyneedtofulfillthisobjectiveandsupportsustainableagricultureinthePhiladelphiaregion.

Finally,Philly FoodSHAREwillprovidea space forPhiladelphia co-ops toaggregateprocessedandpackagedfooditemsforpersonalizedlabeling.ThiscanbeafundamentalprojectforPhillyFoodSHARE,becauseithelpsco-opsestablisha“Philadelphiaco-op”brand.Brandingwillhelpthecooperativesspreadtheirnameandsellgreaterquantitiesofhealthy,localfoodtotheircommunity.Sellinggreaterquantitiesoffoodwillnotonlyreducepricesfortheco-ops,butultimatelytheconsumeraswell.Inaddition,thecooperativeswillrentthespacetorunprocessorworkshopsthatteachtheirmembershowtohandleandtransformfood.

sPoTligHT: CHesTer CounTy food bankInthefallof2010,theChesterCountyFoodBankopenedits3,400squarefootcommercialkitchen.Thepurposeof thekitchenwas toprovidea space toprocess theextraproducegleaned fromthe foodbank’s partner farms. Beforeopening the kitchen, the foodbank needed todistributevegetableswithinonetotwodaysbeforetheywentbad.Withthekitchen,theyareabletotransformmarginalvegetablesintosoupandsauce,blastfreezethem,vacuumsealthem,anddistributethemovera longerperiodof time.Having thekitchenmeans thefoodbankproduces lesswasteandfeedsmorepeople.TheChesterCountyFoodBankpaidforitskitchenwithmoneyearnedduringacapitalcampaign.Constructionofthekitchenandpurchaseofvalue-addingequipmentcostroughly2milliondollars.

Contact:ChesterCountyFoodBank LarryWelsch ExecutiveDirector 1208HorseshoePike DowningtownPA,19335 [email protected] chestercountyfoodbank.org


PhillyFoodSHAREwillopenaretailfoodoutlet.TheretailstandwillsellproducefromNiceRootsFarm,aswellasotherlocalfoodboughtaspartofPhillyFoodSHARE’saggregationanddistributionprogram.PhillyFoodSHAREwilloperatethestorewithapartnersuchasFairFoodtorunit.

Retailwillhavebothanon-siteandoff-sitecomponent.On-siteretailcouldtakeavarietyofforms–abuilt-outstoreinthewarehouse,afarmstandintheparkinglotoramobilevendoroutside.On-siteretailwillformalizetheretailactivityalreadyhappeningatthewarehouse,improveaffordablefoodaccesstopeopleintheadjacentcommunityandprovideadirectmarketingopportunityforsmall-scaleprocessorsusingthecommercialkitchen.WeaversWay,FairFoodorTheFoodTrustcouldhelpgetaretailmarketrunning,asbothorganizationshaveexperienceinthiscapacity.

Theoff-siteopportunitywill include thedevelopmentof thePhilly FoodSHAREbrandpreviouslymentioned,tobesoldatnearbyretailerssuchasthenewBrown’sShopRiteacrossthestreet.APhillyFoodSHAREbrandwillserveasbothafundraiserandasanawarenesspiecefortheorganization.

reTail

FreshproduceondisplayatmarketatBrickworksinToronto


SHAREwillproviderenovatedofficespaceforothergreenandfood-relatedorganizations,aswellas complimentary social service organizations and agencies. Constituents who come to the foodhubforeducational,communityorfoodprogramswillalsoaccessotherservicessuchaschildcareand Medicare. Agencies like the Philadelphia Department for Health and Human Services andPhiladelphiaCorporationfortheAgingwillhavesatelliteofficesatSHAREtoprovideservicestofoodhubconstituents.OtherpartnersusingofficespaceatSHAREwillincludePennStateExtensionandGreenVillage.Themajorbenefitofco-locatingallyorganizationsunderoneroofisthatitallowsforresourceandideasharingandismoreconducivetocollaborationandpartnership.Rentalspacecouldbeassmallasadeskoraslargeassuiteofoffices.

offiCe

CommunityadvocacyofficesatTheStopinToronto


Ontheopposingpage,thesevenprogramsdescribedinthisreportappearaspartofanewnonprofit,tentativelytitledPhillyFoodSHARE:ARegionalResourceCenter.AspartnersgatherwithSHAREtocollaborateonthewarehouse,commercialkitchen,value-addedprocessing,urbanagriculture,toollibrary,retailandofficespace,thisnonprofitcanbeformedtopoolresourcesandhirejointstaff.

SHARE is uniquely positioned in theMid-Atlantic.With its large warehouse capacity, convenientfreewayaccessandbroadnetworkofpartners,SHAREhas thepotential toextend itsmissionbyexpanding programming. As a regional food resource center, SHARE can channel the efforts ofgrowers,processorsandeaterstowardsthegoalofprovidingwholesome,affordablefoodforall.

PHilly food sHare summary


WAREHOUSE

URBAN AG

SUPPORT

VALUE-ADDED

BUSINESSES

OFFICERETAIL

TOOL LIBRARYCOMMERCIAL

KITCHEN

Philly Food SHAREcommunity food resource centerPhilly Food SHAREa regional resource center


CASE StudiES

In the development of the definition and programs for Philly Food SHARE, there are several existing “food hubs” and “community food centers” which provide inspiration. These operations and their history create a context to further understand the potential of Philly Food SHARE.

norTH ameriCan “food Hub” researCH


90CroatiaStreetToronto,ONM6H1K9www.foodshare.net

Katie WilloughbyOffice [email protected]

Year Founded:1985Sectors: Distribution,education,advocacy,job creationandtrainingGeography:urban-ruralconnectionConsticuency:Localfoodenthusiastsandlow incomepopulationsthroughdonationsOwnership Type: non-profitNumber of Staff:36full-timeTotal Budget (2009):$5,726,120Total Revenue (2010):$5,664,050

FoodSharetriestotakeamultifaceted,innovativeandlong-termapproachtohungerandfoodissues.Thismeans thatwe’re involved in diverseactions: grassroots programdelivery, advocacy for social assistancereform,jobcreationandtraining,nutritioneducation,farmlandpreservationandcampaignsforcomprehensivefoodlabelingarejustafewexamplesoftheareasweworkin.

FoodSharewasfoundedin1985bythenMayorofToronto,ArtEggleton,andothersconcernedaboutthegrowthofhungerandfoodbanks thathadtakenplace in thewakeof therecessionof theearly1980’s.FoodShare’soriginalmandatewastoco-ordinateemergencyfoodservices,andtocollectanddistributefood.TheHungerHotlinewasestablishedasavolunteer-runreferralserviceforpeopleseekingtheseservicesintheirneighborhood.AnotherkeypartofFoodShare’smandatewastoadvocateforpoliciesthatwouldensureadequateemployment,andtheincomenecessarytoenableallpeopletomeettheirbasicneeds.

SoFoodSharebegantoexploreself-helpmodels likeco-operativebuyingsystems,collectivekitchensandcommunitygardensthatwouldhavethepotentialtoaddressshort-termissuesofhouseholdhunger,whilealsoprovidinglonger-termbenefitsbybuildingthecapacityofindividualsandcommunities.

mission & HisToryfoodsHare ToronTo


TheStopbeganasoneofthenation’sfirstfoodbanksalmost30yearsago,growingoutoftheministryofReverendCamRussellatSt.Stephen-in-the-FieldsParish.In1982,TheStopwasofficiallyincorporatedasanon-profitorganization.Sincethattime,TheStophascarriedoutitsanti-hungerworkinanumberoflocations,andsince1995hasbeenatitscurrenthomeof1884DavenportRd.

TheStopisprimarilyinthebusinessofensuringthateveryoneinourcommunityhasenoughsafe,goodqualityfoodtohaveahealthylife–withouthavingtoresorttoemergencymeasures.

Atthecommunitylevel,TheStopcontributestocommunityfoodsecuritybygivingpeopletheskillstochoose,prepareandgrowfood, therebybecomingmorefoodsecure.Ourcommunitykitchensandgardensdrawpeopletogetheraroundfood,whichnotonlyincreasestheiraccesstofood,butalsoreducessocialisolationandbuildsnetworksbetweenindividuals.

Attheprovinciallevel,TheStopandotherfoodsecurityadvocateslookatthepoliciesthathaveshapedourcurrentfoodsystem,andhowtheycanbeimprovedtoincreasecommunityfoodsecurity.Asaresult,we’veengagedinadvocacyonincomesecurity,andareworkingwithPublicHealthofficialstopointtolinksbetweenhealthyfoodanddiseaseprevention.

mission & HisTory THe sToP

1884DavenportRdToronto,[email protected]

Year Founded: 1982Sectors: Education,UrbanAgriculture,FoodBank CommunityCenter,AdvocacyGeography:UrbanConsticuency:Primarilylow-incomeindividuals (76%nakingunder$15,000ayear), averageage48,76%unemployedOwnership Type: non-profitNumber of Staff:37full-timeTotal Revenue (2010):$1.2million


P.O.Box4647CharlottesvilleVA22905434.286.2176info@localfoodhub.orgwww.localfoodhub.org

Year Founded:2008Sectors: DistributionandoutreachGeography:urban-ruralconnectionConsticuency:Localfoodenthusiastsandlow incomepopulationsthroughdonations Ownership Type: non-profitNumber of Staff:N/ATotal Budget (2009):$259,886Total Revenue (2009):$408,443

LocalFoodHubisanonprofitorganizationworkingtostrengthenandsecurethefutureofahealthyregionalfoodsupplybyprovidingsmallfarmerswithconcreteservicesthatsupporttheireconomicvitalityandpromotestewardshipoftheland.

We are developing a sustainable local food distribution model right here in Charlottesville, Virginia. Byworkingtogetherwithfarmers,eatersandourcommunity,weareaddressingthreemajorissuesinournation’slocalfoodsystem:distribution,supply,andaccess.Here’showwedoit:

DISTRIBUTION:Weoperatealocalfoodwarehousewhereweaggregatelocallygrownproducefrommorethan50smallfamilyfarmswithin100milesofCharlottesvilleanddistributethisfoodtovariousinstitutions.SUPPLY:Oureducationalprograms,includingworkshops,farmapprenticeships,andhigh-schoolinternshipsaredesignedtoinspireandtrainthenextgenerationoffarmers,producersandlocalfoodadvocates.ACCESS:Webelieveeveryonedeservesequalaccesstohealthyfoodgrowninourcommunity.Bycreating“onenumbertocall”forlocalfood,weenablepublicschools,hospitalsandretailerstoeasilypurchaselocalfoodinlargequantities.Wedonate25%ofthefoodgrownonoureducationalfarmtofoodbanksandhungerorganizations.

mission & HisToryloCal food Hub


FOODBOXES

FARM STAND/LOCAL

RETAIL

WHOLESALE

PROCESSING MARKETS

URBAN AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION

HEALTHY FOOD

ACCESS

RETAIL

FARM TO INSTITUTION

Tomobilizeleadershipandresourcestoachievestakeholders’visionfortheEasternMarketDistrictandmaketheEasternMarkettheundisputedcenterforfreshandnutritiousfoodinsoutheastMichigan.

EasternMarket is the largestpublicmarket in thecountryspanningfivecityblocks. Ithasbeenoperatinginsomecapacitysince1891anduntilrecently,hadbeenmanagedbytheCityofDetroit.In2006,EasternMarket Corporation (EMC), a new nonprofit, entered into an agreementwith the city to oversee EasternMarket’sdailyoperations,envisionandimplementaseriesofcapitalimprovements,serveastheEasternMarketDistrict’seconomicdevelopmentorganization,and leverage themarketasanasset to rebuild surroundingneighborhoods.

Thedistrict surroundingEasternMarket consistsofaclusterof foodrelatedprocessorsanddistributors. In2008,EMCpublishedaneconomicdevelopmentstrategyplanfortheDistrictcallingforrenovationoftheMarket,significantsiteimprovements,developmentofamixed-useneighborhoodaroundtheMarket.CapitalimprovementsfortheMarketaloneareestimatedtocost$50milliondollarsandincludeconstructionofanew20,000squarefootMarketHall,winterizingallexistingmarketbuildings,andaneducationcenterwithclassrooms,andincubatorkitchen,andofficespace.EMChasreceivedsignificantfinancialsupportincluding$3.7millioninfundingfromtheKelloggFoundationsince2007forvariousaspectsoftheproject.

mission & HisTory deTroiT easTern markeT

2934RussellStreetDetroit,Michigan48207www.detroiteasternmarket.com

Dan CarmodyPresident [email protected]

Year Founded:2006(marketsince1891)Sectors: Distribution,UrbanAgriculture, Wholesale,Retail,FoodAccess,EducationGeography:UrbanConsticuency:Generalpublic&wholesale purchasersOwnership Type: non-profitNumber of Staff: 11Total Budget (2010): $1,873,600Total Revenue (2010):$1,873,600


2501ECumberlandStreetPhiladelphia,[email protected]

Year Founded: 1998Sectors: Production,processing,distributionGeography:Urban-ruralconnectionConsticuency:Urbanconsumers,low-income,PA FarmersOwnership Type: non-profit,CSANumber of Staff:6FT;23seasonalPTTotal Revenue (2009):$1.1million

Greensgrow began as an urban farm on an abandoned lot in 1997 and quickly emerged into a successful urbanagriculturebusiness.ItnowoperatesathrivingCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA)whichsells500sharesoffoodfrom 80 Pennsylvania farms to urban Philadelphia residents, including 40 shares to low-income residents who maypurchasespeciallysizedandpricedsharesusingtheirSNAPbenefitsthroughitsLocalInitiativeforFoodEducation(LIFE)program,whichwasinitiatedin2010inpartnershipwithTheReinvestmentFund(TRF).

Greensgrow isdedicated topromotingeconomicgrowthanddevelopment ineconomicallydistressedneighborhoodsthroughthecreationandoperationofasociallyconsciousandsustainableagri-businessenterprise.Greensgrowisinits14thyearofoperation,andinadditiontoitssuccessfulCSAprogram,itownsandoperatesacommercialfarm,aretailnursery,andafooddistributionbusinessspecializinginlocally-grownandproducedproducts.Italsooperatesashared-usecommercialkitchen,whichitbuiltatanearbychurch.ThekitchenisusedbothbyGreensgrowtoproducevalue-addedfoodsfromfarmfreshproduceforitsCSAshares,andbycommunityfoodentrepreneursandorganizations.Greensgrowalsoprovides technical support andbusiness consultation to various organizations,municipal governments, andotherurban-agriculturalenterprisesthatwanttoreplicatethe“GreensgrowModel.”

UrbanagricultureisattheheartofGreensgrow.Eachseasontheorganizationgrowsover20differenttypesofvegetables,totalingover2000poundsoffreshproducefortheirfarmstandandCSA.Duetothetoxicnatureoftheexistingsoilon the site, theyuse large raisedbeds for theirgrowing system.Theyhavealso institutedproduction inhydroponics,containers,greenroofs,andoff-sitefarms.

mission & HisTorygreensgrow

CSASHARES

COMMERCIALNURSERY

COMMUNITY KITCHEN

COMMERCIALFARM

LOCALPRODUCERS/

FARMS


philly food share: a partnership and vision plan

Documents

food distribution

food program

food hubs

philly food share

food production

food insecurity

regional food center

food hub concept