Doing Business in Nelson County

Economic Development Authority
December 4, 2008

Present:
Greg Kelly
Steve Crandall
Natt Hall
Emily Pelton

Absent:
Erwin Berry
Bennett Saunders
Alphonso Taylor

There was no public comment.

Chairperson Greg Kelly called the meeting to order.

Motion:  To approve the November 6, 2008 meeting minutes. Hall-Pelton (4-0)

Local Food Hub presentation – Kate Collier and Marisa Vrooman
The local food market is the fastest growing sector of the food industry.  Demand for local food far outweighs supply.  There is amazing potential for economic growth in Nelson County and surrounding areas.

US Food Market Estimators state that for example Nelson County alone requires an annual production of:
67 tons of Broccoli
283 tons of Potatoes
151 tons of Tomatoes
114 tons of Leaf Lettuce
135 tons of Apples
and       35 tons of Peaches

The Local Food Hub aims to corner 10% of this market, in our first year, which could potentially yield more than $130,000 in wholesale produce sales.

The New York Times says, “Many in the food industry believe the demand for local food is here to stay. “It’s going to be a way of life.”

The West Central Tribune states, “The market for locally produced foods is growing, and dollars spent at home have a multiplier effect in the local economy.”

Our plan for a Local Food Hub has organically developed to fill the gap in communication and transportation between food buyers and local growers. The analysis of many studies, food system building organizations and regular conversations with local growers and purchasers alike, make it clear that the lack of a facilitator between buyer and grower is prohibiting this sector of the food industry from growing.

The mission of the Local Food Hub is to:  Provide efficient distribution and marketing infrastructure in support of farms in Nelson County and the entire Thomas Jefferson Planning District in order to increase local food supply, minimize food waste, and reduce fuel consumption via a centralized location.

The Local Food Hub is a location where food is consolidated and processed for sale to existing distributors and institutions, and an organization that serves as an informational and support hub for farmers.  Farmers need networking and business support in order to maximize their profits and output.  We will address several areas where farmers have stated they need assistance:
1)    Networking between growers, purchasers & food entrepreneurs
2)    Liability issues
3)    Trace-ability and branding issues
4)    Consolidation and
5)    Delivery

Through these services we hope to help incubate the next generation of small, entrepreneurial farmers in Nelson County.

Both Kate Collier and I are passionate about the local food movement.  The combination of our areas of expertise makes us the perfect team for getting this hub up and running.  Kate has extensive experience in the food industry.  She has seen food warehouses, distribution centers, and specialty stores through from inception to full operation.  Through her work at Feast, she has existing relationships with both farmers and purchasers in the community.  She has been studying this issue thoroughly for more than a year.  I have a background in non-profit development, networking and administration, previously working for The Virginia Film Festival and Heritage Repertory Theatre at the University of Virginia.  For more than five years I also served as a facilitator and contract negotiator between production companies and the city agencies, municipalities, and private parties with whom they dealt.

Your $10,000 in economic development funds will help support our business plan development and sponsor our negotiation of the 2009 growing season contracts with area institutions and established Nelson County farmers.

Nelson County’s trailblazing support of this project, we believe, will open the floodgates of funding from Albemarle County, area foundations and private citizens.

Nelson County is a very innovative area, which has recruited some of our best vintners, brewers, and farmers.  It has some of the best farmland and open space in the area and we believe that with the services and support of the Local Food Hub, Nelson County will be an even more attractive destination for small farmers and food entrepreneurs.
Motion:  To allocate $10,000 to the Local Food Hub project to create a business plan for the Local Food Hub project.  The funds will assist in organizing and informing local producers about the project and providing them with a distribution channel for their products. Hall-Crandall (4-0)
Natt Hall will serve as liaison to the project.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.