Alachua County, FL is undertaking a pilot Food Hub effort named the </font><font face=”inherit”>Fresh Food Pathways project. We are excited to share the finalized RFP documents with you (below)</font> Those who have access to the link should be able to access the folder on Google Drive and download the files. They include:

1. Alachua Fresh Food…

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Yes, here’s the recording! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEYyrQ8Q4d4&feature=youtu.be

Hi Andrew! Will this call be recorded? Thanks!

Good morning and happy farm to school month!

Today’s VCC CoP call will feature findings from National Fam to School Network’s research on the role of farm to school coordinators, with a focus on their roles that overlap with VCC. See the full description below. Hope to see you there!

Value Chain Coordination CoP – Tuesday, October 21 (3pm ET)…

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Hi Andrew

If you could send me an invite to register for the call as a guest (?) with the call description I can forward it to the group.

Thank you!

Diane

Hi Diane,

Yes I’d be happy for you to invite state leads and anyone in their networks! If you want the language in a different format let me know and I can send you something. – Andrew

thanks!!

Hi Andrew, We are working on a multi-state project concept for the upcoming round of Lake Michigan Food System Innovation Hub funding connecting food hubs in IL, WI, IN, and WI.Is it possible to share this call opportunity with the other state leads in our Innovation group? That would be roughly 5 or 6 folks.

Let me know!

Thanks, Diane

Hi- sure you are welcome to invite them! They could register using this link to get the calendar invite- https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvd-2rrjIuHdF_sMjxrJi3BufHSbQzO0P9. If you share your invite sometimes it only lets one person join. FSLN membership is not required but they can sign up here if…

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sounds great! Thanks. I have some folks that I work with here in Wisconsin and also some folks from out W/NW that would possibly be interested in this conversation. I’m not sure they are on the CoP list. Is it ok for me to invite them? I can’t remember how/if there is a policy on this. Or should I be encouraging them to register for the…

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Join us on Tuesday, September 16th, (3pm ET) for an informative panel discussion!

Topic: Eastern Food Hub Collaborative: Choosing Collaboration over Competition in a Capitalist Economy

Join us to hear about the practice and potential of food hub networking from the Eastern Food Hub Collaborative and other hub networks in New England,…

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Registration is open for a new 3-part project management course from the Food Systems Leadership Network. This should be a great professional development opportunity- read more and sign up below!

As nonprofits, community-based organizations, government agencies, and others advance their work, they must navigate complex systems and…

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Hi everyone,

The Food Systems Leadership Network is seeking proposals for a project virtual management training to be offered April or May. We’d like to offer a training on core project management skills and share materials that folks can apply to their work. The scope is for at least 8 hours of training to at least 75 individuals with a…

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Hi everyone! We didn’t record the CoP call this week because it was largely discussion based. I can share this Mural board (https://app.mural.co/t/circleforward8977/m/circleforward8977/1739900354068/48e66b8d9e284608f899a8c0cd810d755c8667f3) where you can see the notes from a discussion on hopes and fears in our communities this year. Below…

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Maybe not exactly what you’re looking for, but a few groups collaborated to create the free Open Access LA for food biz startups. Quick look at their biz plan section, it links to the US SBA website re: market analysis. So not much more than what your resource shared specifically for market research.

Hello! We had this question come up on an offers/asks exercise a while back and I think its a good one for the discussion board. Does anyone have resources to support low-cost/DIY market research for local food value-added products? Friends in WA are looking to build on a resource like this one from OR to support…

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The FSLN is partnering with Hunter P. Goodman at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture to offer an interactive, practical grant writing training. Dr. Goodman has trained over 500 community leaders in grant writing this year and has some easy, practical tools to offer during the session. Registration is limited to 65 participants.…

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VCC CoP Discussion Group post:

Dec 17: Solidarity Economy Principles, plus Nov follow-up & 2024 in review

We’re closing out 2024 with a session that draws from many threads we’ve delved into this year. Below, I provide a quick travelogue of where we’ve been together this year. But first let’s center December 17th from 2-3:15pm Central, when…

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We’re closing out 2024 with a session that draws from many threads we’ve delved into this year. Below, I provide a quick travelogue of where we’ve been together this year. But first let’s center December 17th from 2-3:15pm Central, when we’ll welcome Jamila Medley to share the Solidarity Economy Principles. In keeping with our Q4 theme of…

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I’m happy to introduce you. Please email me at tania@farmtoinstitution.org. Thanks!

-Tania

Thank you, Tania! I appreciate you answering my question. Ismael’s work seems very inspiring. Are you in contact with him? I’d love to connect with him to learn more.

Thank you, Christine! I appreciate it.

Hi Whitney,

Ismael Samad has been involved with a few initiatives in different cities, including:
1. Nubian Markets in Boston (in collaboration with Boston Medical Center, and I believe with support from City of Boston which now has an Office of Food Justice that probably has other examples for you as well), https://www.nubianmarkets.com/&hellip;

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Hi Whitney, check out this place https://allenneighborhoodcenter.org/. I am not sure if the city of Lansing directly supported with subsidies, but it is an excellent re-use of a building to bring the community together around local food.

Hi everyone,

I hope someone within our group here may be able to answer this question. A community developer wants to transform an outlet previously used as a Family Dollar into another format that actually helps nourish the neighborhood’s residents. I’m looking for successful models and also open to any value chain coordination situations in…

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Network Leadership Opportunity:
2025 VCC Community of Practice Facilitator

The Value Chain Coordination Community of Practice was launched in 2021 to
create a space for the brilliant people building local and regional value
chains to learn from each other, share best practices, and build relationships.
It’s grown to over 700 members over… Read more

Hi everyone- here is the innovators compass deck we were working in on the call yesterday- feel free to continue working through your questions or start a new one! Also note on the give/get section starting on slide 59 Galen has a question about market research- does anyone have some ideas around that? Feel free to add your own questions…

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Hi VCC CoP folks,

We’ve got an exciting session coming up tomorrow! (Tues. 11/19/24 from 2-3:15 PM Central) I’m truly grateful for our 2 guest speakers, alums of the breakthrough design firm IDEO who are joining us to share ways to get “unstuck” via 5 simple questions using the Innovators’ Compass. For a sneak preview, check out this …

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We want to hear from you! We are seeking your input and feedback and would like to hear from 200 FSLN members by November 15! Through the FSLN annual member survey, we’ll be able to see how different types of programs help advance the overall goals of the network. After completing the survey, you’ll be eligible to win a $100 gift card (just in…

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Hi everyone! Here is the recording of the October CoP call with guests Angel Mendez and Michael Rozyne of Red Tomato! I edited the video to focus on their storytelling so you can get to the good stuff.

Hi Sue, sorry I’m just now responding. We will record the storytelling portion from Angel and Michael and share back with everyone. Here is the registration link if you still want to pass that on-https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvd-2rrjIuHdF_sMjxrJi3BufHSbQzO0P9

@EricD Please post the reg link for this interesting discussion so I can share it. Also will you record it? I won’t be there this time and I don’t want to miss stories from one of my favorite people, Angel Mendez! Thanks.

How does the “speed of trust” inform collaborations in food systems work?

What happens when we move too fast and how do we heal from that?

Join us 10/15 from 3-4:15pm Eastern as our two colleagues from Red Tomato explore these questions, based on experience spanning 27 years in one of the most innovative and respected food hubs in the U.S.

More…

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Our guest on September 17th was Franco Naccarato. Here’s a link to the recording of Franco’s remarks and discussion at the session: https://youtu.be/oKif1l_-l8A

See below for key themes from Franco’s Remarks.

###

What IS value chain coordination?

First and Foremost you are CHANGE agents. Understanding change from a psychological point of view is key.…

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Hi Folks –

Really hope you can join us tomorrow – Tuesday (9/17, 3-4:15PM Eastern) – for our monthly VCC community of practice conversation with Franco Naccarato. I’ve included the session summary from the Catalyst below, but first there are a few questions to help Franco tailor his remarks to the needs and interests of the community. We’d love…

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Nice. Thanks Andrew. I’m glad this great info is all still available.. keeping those lessons learned front & center.

I sent this to Alicia directly, but for the benefit of the group here is our compilation of food hub resources! https://foodsystemsleadershipnetwork.org/resource-library/topic-areas/food-hubs/. If others have anything that speaks directly to her question let me know and we’ll add it to the list.

I attended a seminar years ago by Edward Tufte and I think his approach to showing several key data points on a map has potential utility for Value Chain mapping. https://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0002yI. I’ve also found good examples from the https://coolinfographics.com/ folks.

Hi Alicia, Years ago the Wallace Center had a good list of resources and reports. There might be some thing useful in there. Perhaps Andrew Carberry at Wallace can find those resources and post here. I see he isn’t in this group but he’s in the FSLN. andrew.carberry@winrock.org

Though I just learned of this on Monday and have not had time to look into it myself, folks were very high on”QGIS”. It may be worth a moment to have a look if this is something that’s right for your needs.

me too. Perhaps someone has a screen shot of the tools that was used?

I would like to attend! How do I register? <br clear=”all”>

How does change happen? Let’s explore how you adapt to, and shape, the food system! What’s your theory of change? You’ll explore your sphere of influence and your own approach to collaborative network leadership. This conversation will share examples of models for change and help you clarify your theory of change.Through peer skill-share, you… Read more

Hi Value Chain Coordination folks,

I hope you are able to stay cool and safe amidst the climate slings and arrows Mother Nature is offering us, in light of our ongoing role—as a species—in warming the planet at a record-breaking level.

We’re Pausing for July and will Reconvene in August

The Value Chain Coordination Community of Practice is…

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Hope you can join us for the Skill Share we’ll be doing 3-4:15PM ET Tues 6/18 on knowing and serving your community, and their interests and needs. Adam Brock of Regenerate Change will kick off the conversation before we break out into smaller groups for skill-sharing, discussing challenges, and exploring solutions in getting to know…

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Thanks again to Tyler Edwards with NSAC and Antonio Tovar with NFFC for sharing updates about the farm bill and inspiration to get involved! If you missed it, you missed it because we don’t have the recording ?. But we do have the slides from Tyler and Antonio attached and the resources including a sign up for action alerts below. Please share…

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Hi Eric – great topic, thank you! Is there a Zoom link/info for the call?

Hey folks, The Farm Bill may be on your mind, as negotiations heat up in Congress, or simply on your plate–as the provisions of this expansive, multi-year legislation touch all of us. We’re excited and grateful to have Tyler Edwards–Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator with National Sustainable Ag Coalition and Antonio Tovar–Senior Policy…

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Thank you for joining us for the VCC Community of Practice (CoP) call today. Thanks again to Sarah Rocker, Rockiell Woods, and Sue Beckwith for joining to share your perspectives! If you missed the live call or simply would like a recap the recording is available here.

See you next month for the next call on Tuesday May 21 from 3-4:15 EST. …

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