FLORIDA FARMLINK IS LIVE! CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

Florida FarmLink is a project of the Florida West Coast RC&D to connect small farms and beginning farmers to land, expertise, apprentices, mentors, staff, markets, and other resources and services related to starting or expanding their farming operation. It will function as a web-based matching service, to be established at www.FloridaFarmLink.org.

Background – The Foundation of a Local Food System

• Sarasota County conducted an assessment of its ecological footprint in 2004. (it was 22.8 acres/person)
• The footprint analysis found that 22% of our demands on our biocapacity is directly from our need for food.
• Local small-farms conference in April 2006 in Hillsborough County demonstrated the following:
• Training needs requested (88% classroom, 67% on-line classes, 90% publications, and 81% wanted more web-based information)
• 95% of start-up farms indicated that they wanted training from a farmer mentor
• 49% said they would like training by working on a farm
• 38% of small farmers said they would be willing to be a mentor
• 41% indicated they would be willing to have an apprentice
• Aging population and decrease in number of farmers
• The “next generation” may not be the offspring of current farmers but others that are interested in becoming farmers but do not have land or expertise.

Specific needs identified locally in new/beginning or transitioning farmers:

• Assistance in developing a business plan
• Developing a marketing strategy
• Managing a transition to a diversified farming operation
• Information on where and how to obtain land, equipment, supplies, and information
• Additional training in production methods
• At every presentation, workshop, or meeting about local food or sustainable food systems, there is at least one person requesting assistance of this type. (at E-Fest 2006, >20 people).

One Solution - Florida FarmLink

• Florida Farm Link has been endorsed locally by agriculture organizations
• Partial funding has been approved by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, the Hillsborough County Economic Development Department, Southern Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program

Goals of Florida FarmLink

• Develop a pilot that could go statewide within 2 years
• Stimulate connections in the entrepreneurial network of landowners, beginner farmers, consultants in farming, and other businesses that support a local food system.
• Use land within suburban and urban areas for growing of food in a manner that stimulates economic activity, reduces the ecological footprint, and improves access to healthy, local food
• Expand existing businesses and help create new small farm businesses that serve local populations
• Provide an ongoing live-time assessment of the needs in the agricultural entrepreneur network
• Demonstrate an initiative that uses a "natural capitalism"-style economic development

For more information about Florida FarmLink and opportunities to get involved, contact our office!

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