Download In our area of northern NH, WREN has become one of the lead

InourareaofnorthernNH,WRENhasbecomeoneoftheleadorganizations
focusingonlocalfood&farmsandisinpositiontoaccomplishsomeground
breakingworkinourlocalfoodsystem.Thisprogramhasjustrecentlylaunched
andweareintheresearchandnetworkingphaseoftheproject.
TheFood&FarmProgramwascreatedtoresearchlocalfoodopportunityand
capacityonboththesupplyanddemandsideofourlocalfoodlandscape.This
research,alongwithproducerandconsumerinput,willguideoureffortsin
providingbusiness-to-resourceconnectionsandassistancetofoodbased
businessesofallsizes.Additionaloutcomesofresearchandnetworkinginthe
foodsystem,willbetomapoutpointsofaccesstomarketsforlocalfood
enterprisesandfarms.TheFood&FarmProgramhasalsotakenaroleinthe
continuedeffortsofincreasingaccesstofresh,localfoodforlow-incomefamilies
throughfarmer’smarkets,educationandhealthcaresystems.
Programobjectives
• Providenetworkingforproducerstoconnectwithandgainmarketaccess.
Takethe"legwork"awayfromthelocalfoodproducerandmakemarket
connectionsforthem.
• MaintaindatabaseofresourcesatWREN.Collectanddistribute
informationtofarmers,retailersandlocalfoodenterpriseswhoare
otherwisetoobusytoresearchloanfunding,workshopsaswellas
procurementpoliciesforretailandrestaurantmarkets.
• Providegrantopportunitiesforgapsinthesystemsuchasseasonextension
orfoodpreservationprograms.
• Buildthelocalfoodcommunityintoahealthy,sustainableeconomy.
Weareactivelymeetingwithfarmersandbusinessownersone-on-one.Ifyouare
afarmorfoodbusinessofanykindfeelfreetocontactus
[email protected]’ttakeuptoomuchof
yourtime,ourgoalistounderstandyourperspectiveandexperienceinthelocal
foodcommunityandmakeconnections.Wehopeyoucouldbenefitfromthe
resourcesthataregatheringforlocalfoodcommunityaswell.
WRENisuniqueinthatwecantakealeadintheeffortofopeningmarketaccess
forfoodentrepreneurs.Thereisastrongcommitmentfromourboardandstaff
tomakealonglasting,productiveprogramforlocalfoodandfarmbusinesses.It’s
veryexciting!