A New Year brings lots of promise, and 2013 brings fantastic opportunity for Mendocino County’s farmers and the local food economy as a whole! While the soggy fields and soil rest in anticipation of a bountiful growing season ahead, new opportunities for local food farmers are stirring at West Company. In continuing efforts to build better businesses,
West Company is excited to work with Mendocino County food producers through a new project funded by the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Strengthening CSAs by Building Capacity and Expanding Markets Project.
CSA, or
Community Supported Agriculture, is a farm business model based on a direct relationship between the producer and consumers. In this relationship, a community of eaters provides financial support to the farm at the beginning of the farming season and usually shares in the inherent risks of food production. The producer commits to growing or raising the food to the best of his/her ability, typically with agro-ecological farming methods.
CSA is a proven business model for sustainable small- and medium-scale food agriculture.
“Strengthening CSAs” will provide a comprehensive market analysis of CSA programs in Mendocino County, support production and management ability of CSA operators, and help increase consumer participation in CSAs. Running through March 2014, the project will support jobs and increase access to healthy local foods, improving overall health of our community.
West Company has brought together an adept team to complete the project.
Jen Dalton, the Market Analyst, will survey CSA operators and consumers, to
develop a clear understanding of CSA consumer characteristics and barriers to CSA participation. The resulting report will be shared with project partners and inform the outreach and education components of this project. Jen is director of Kitchen Table Consulting, a Ukiah-based strategic consultancy that works with people and projects that strive to improve health, strengthen local economies and transform our food system.
The project will include a training and education course through West Company geared toward new and existing CSA operators, as well as individuals who wish to run a successful farm business.
Matt Maurer, the Business Trainer, will provide business-planning support to CSA operators through
individual assessments and workshop trainings. Matt helped establish his family’s pistachio farm and owns Redwood Valley Nut Company, which sells organically grown pistachios, almonds, and walnuts.
Adam Gaska, the Farming Technical Assistant Consultant,
will provide production-related support through individual consultations and workshops. Adam owns Mendocino Organics, a diversified vegetable and livestock operation, and has been farming in inland Mendocino County for over a decade.
Paula Manalo Gaska, the Project Organizer, will coordinate the project, supporting the training and education sessions, as well as lead a
media campaign to increase community awareness of CSA. Outreach and education activities will include supporting an increase in low-income household participation in CSAs. Paula operates Mendocino Organics with her husband Adam and volunteers for The Greenhorns and the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association.
Pamela Patterson, CEO of West Company, Inc., will provide management and fiscal oversight of the project, ensuring fidelity to the project plan. Cathy Boyd, Operations Manager of West Company, Inc., will provide technical support, oversee contract deliverables, and maintain records.
West Company and the project team look forward to collaborating with partners to strengthen food agriculture and overall community health in Mendocino County in 2013 and into the future!
Interested in becoming a CSA member?
Here are a few local CSAs to check out:
The goal of this three year program is to train community gardeners to share, organize, lead, and continue to
build the movement for expanding and sustaining spaces for community and
school gardens. 
Now that year one has been brought to a close, Garden Leaders from Ukiah and Anderson Valley have chosen to continue meeting as a Garden Leadership Council next year without facilitation by the Gardens Project. The Gardens Project will be moving onto year two of this three year program by starting the same training cycle with gardeners from Willits, Laytonville and Covelo this January. The following year will be with gardeners on the coast from Point Arena to Fort Bragg. 
