Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The project made direct contact with well over 150 start-up Latino farm enterprises and aspiring Latino farmers in its outreach and engagement efforts. The project also made contact withdirect contact with over 20 established Latino farmers in efforts to find leaders who would assist with the development of our program from general outreach and engagement efforts all the way to program design and to the ultimate goal of establishing a Latino farmer led organization as a crucial element of the network for support of beginning Latino farmers that this project endeavored to build. Changes/Problems: Change in PD: In February of 2013 IWF Director, Luis Moscoso became the PD for the project, replacing Donald Hopps. IWF attempted to report this change at the time, but was informed in October that we had not submitted the correct paperwork to NIFA. We have submitted the requested paperwork and Luis attended the November BFRDP conference as PD. Washington Latino Farmers Network (WLFN): In our first progress report we discussed project partner CPOVA, a Latino farming cooperative that was to provide outreach and education and technical assistance to the project. We reported that CPOVA had focused on their own farming business and had not been effective in this project role, as an organization (Though some individual members did provide these services and continue to do so as part of a broader group of established producers). During this reporting period, IWF successfully engaged and organized a broader group of established Latino producers. We refer to this group as the Washingtion Latino Farmers Network (WLFN) and it replaces CPOVA as the project partner What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The following opportunities for professional development and training were provided: IWF consultant, Maru Villalpando, and PD, Representative Luis Moscoso, facilitated leadership and political advocacy training in individual mentorship sessions and at meetings/workshops. The Washington Latino Farmers Network provided mentorship services on farm planning, best practices, and other technical issues in individual sessions and at meetings/workshops. Heritage Students and IWF staff, Bevin McLeod, Juan Diego Aguilar and Sean Hopps, provided individual training and mentorship in use of technology for marketing promotion and business administration. All professional development and training was delivered bilingually. Heritage and ORFH provided ADENTROfarm business program; the opportunity for participants to complete a farm business training module and then receive technical assistance applying for a loan to be underwritten by ORFH. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated to communities of interest through direct and indirect outreach. Direct outreach methods include: Personal visits Meetings and workshops Peer to peer mentorship Indirect include: Word of mouth flyers and brochures Radio announcements on KDNA The IWF and Heritage hosted the conference,A Community Conversation on Leadership,in November of 2013, the WLFN hosted the farming track and results were shared with attendees which included representatives from the USDA - FSA and RMA, the Yakima farmworkers clinic, the Heritage Science and Business department, Yakima Valley College, ORFH, members of the target audience, and several other community stakeholders. Sean Hopps also participated in Start2Farm forums and published three stories on the website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? It is informative to look back at the goals from the outset of this project and through its achievements it has yielded much learning - the overarching goal of network building was realized through very innovative and grassroots organizing approaches and methods. The goals listed numerically above shifted and morphed in very interesting ways in the three project years such that this report itself can serve as a tool for future innovation in building community assets that will support small, sustainable farming as a viable business opportunity in general, and for Latinos in particular. This is not a surprise, in part, the overarching goal was inspired by the Wallace Foundation's HUFED Innovations report from 2008, which described the importance of network building along with the time, ambiguity of process, and evaluation of that work. The most important accomplishment of this project was the organizing of a Latino led entity, the Washington Latino Farmers Network (WLFN), because it is model for a necessary component of the "network" and a vehicle for accomplishments in all six goal areas listed above (see Innovations Report, area 3, pg. 11): The WLFN was an important tool for outreach and needs assessment of beginning Latino farmers (1, 5). The organization was critical to program design and implementation, including hosting meetings and the seminar series and program integration(1, 2).The WLFN provided a platform to formalize a peer to peer mentorship program that provided outreach, information and referral, and farm planning. Also, to organize joint projects and seek funding and/or financing and to share resources, like equipment, etc. (1,3,4,5). The entity can expand its scope and capacity and/or provide models for community asset building on behalf of Latino farmers in other areas (6) The second general accomplishment of "Developing Latino Farmers" was to expand and integrate the network of partners that we were working with. The Office of Farmworker Housing and Rural Development and their ADENTRO farm business and lending program was the most significant of these. Also, relationships and collaborations were developed with several food businesses and direct marketing channels in the urban market of Seattle. The program was able to integrate key components into a farm to table distribution chain that has the capacity to incubate start-up Latino food and farm businesses. The production end of the chain is hosted by the WLFN and is supported by ADENTRO and the emerging farm business training and research center at Heritage University. The market end is hosted by the IWF and supported by market research and customer development services of several consultants and partners. The IWF provides the WLFN technical assistance and organizes and coordinates up and down the chain. What was accomplished under each goal: (1) A series of 10+ meetings were held each project year. About 75 different farmers attended one or more of the meetings. Meetings were supported and hosted by peer mentors and topics included farm planning, direct marketing initiative, financing, and basic risk management. (2) First, the farm to table distribution chain mentioned above was fully integrated and operational as an incubation program for start up Latino farm enterprises for the third project year. It had 12 participants from the target audience. It is an innovative design that engages start-ups on the main questions that they initially ask; "What do I grow?" and "Where do I sell it?" and then leads them through the farm planning process, The farm training center at Heritage partnered with the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH) to provide a bilingual and culturally designed farm business training module to prepare loan applications through ORFH: ADENTRO and Heritage had two modules, 15 Latino farmers enrolled. Eight graduated and three applied for loans underwritten by ORFH. (3) The WLFN became became the main vehicle for information and referral to resources developed by the project partners and general community resources. (4) By the end of year two a protocol was for annual outreach to beginning Latino farmers through the WLFN mentorship program that would lead them through the farm planning process for that growing season and connect participants the integrated resources of farm to table distribution change. 75 farmers received 600 hours of proffessional mentorship services from the WLFN, documented by IWF. (5) The WLFN received a budget for professional outreach and education services in the last two years of the BFRDP and was a subawardee on a 2014 LFPP grant received by the IWF and a grant received from NALCAB/Sam's club that provides them $20,000 for equipment for value added production for their members. The WLFN received a 2014 VAPG for the planning of a community Value Added Production Center. In all cases the IWF provided technical assistance. (6) The development of the WLFN provides a template for organizing and community asset building of Latino farmers in other areas. The WLFN did provide some outreach in other counties - one of the board members lives in Skagit and contacts were made in Benton, Walla Walla, and Whatcom counties. The work of applying the successful templates and models of "Developing Latino Farmers" largely remains to be done. A possible model is to write By - Laws for the WLFN that provide for a chapter template of governance. At the conclusion of the project period in August of 2014, the focus of work was expanding the scope and capacity of the WLFN to serve small, sustainable Latino farmers and to build community assets in this pursuit. The project had built a strong network of partners and collaborators in support of the WLFN in particular, and small farmers in general. This network is currently engaged in a coordinated effort to create a farm to table distribution chain. The production end of the chain is governed by the WLFN and supported by IWF, Heritage University, ORFH, and other partners and is working to create a shared value-added production center supported by an array of services. The market end of the chain (Seattle and the urban markets West of the Cascades) is governed by the IWF and supported by Columbia Sustainable Enterprises and an array of direct to market, food sourcing businesses and consultants. Work on this end of the chain is toward a site based food hub and is directly coordinated with work on the production end. Our three year project Developing Latino Farmers has laid the basic foundation and discovered and connected the network for innovation in all four areas mentioned in the HUFED Innovations report, including the organization of incipient resources and leadership within the target audience. IWF and the WLFN are ready to build a value chain for small sustainable farmers in the short term and community wealth in all seven forms in the long term. Our success will, in part depend on our ability to continue to fund and sustain the IWF as a community development organization and to build the scope and capacity of the WLFN.

Publications

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: 50 aspiring Latino farmers and 15 established Latino farmers participated in project activities during the reporting period. Changes/Problems: Change in PD: In February of 2013 IWF Director, Luis Moscoso became the PD for the project, replacing Donald Hopps. IWF attempted to report this change at the time, but was informed in October that we had not submitted the correct paperwork to NIFA. We have submitted the requested paperwork and Luis attended the November BFRDP conference as PD. Latino Farmers Network (LFN): In our first progress report we discussed project partner CPOVA, a Latino farming cooperative that was to provide outreach and education and technical assistance to the project. We reported that CPOVA had focused on their own farming business and had not been effective in this project role, as an organization (Though some individual members did provide these services and continue to do so as part of a broader group of established producers). During this reporting period, IWF successfully engaged and organized a broader group of established Latino producers. We refer to this group as the Latino Farmers Network (LFN) and it replaces CPOVA as the project partner. In contrast to CPOVA, the LFN has been very effective in providing comprehensive, peer to peer mentorship to beginning Latino farmers. The process of partnering with Heritage University to establish a formal farm training with an incubator is progressing and we expect to implement most of the elements by the end of the next reporting period. Impacts on the target audience continue to result mostly from our work with the LFN to provide peer mentorship, develop our Direct Marketing Initiative, and develop community assets that serve the target audience Partnering Organizations: IWF engaged several new organizations in the course of project work during the reporting period. New partners include: The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH): ORFH is a CDFI which joins with IWF and Heritage University in the development of a farm training/incubator program. Important business relationship for the Latino Farmers Network. KDNA Spanish Speaking Public Radio -One of the only Spanish speaking public radio stations in the Nation. KDNA has partnered with IWF to promote our BFRDP project including public service announcements and featured interviews with project partners and participants. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The following opportunities for professional development and training were provided: IWF consultant, Maru Villalpando, and PD, Representative Luis Moscoso, facilitated leadership and political advocacy training in individual mentorship sessions and at meetings/workshops. The Latino Farmers Network provided mentorship services on farm planning, best practices, and other technical issues in individual sessions and at meetings/workshops. Heritage Students and IWF staff, Bevin McLeod and Sean Hopps, provided individual training and mentorship in use of technology for marketing promotion and business administration. All professional development and training was delivered bilingually. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated to communities of interest through direct and indirect outreach. Direct outreach methods include: Personal visits Meetings and workshops Peer to peer mentorship Indirect include: Word of mouth flyers and brochures Radio announcements on KDNA What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the next reporting period we plan on: Working with the Latino Farmers Network (LFN) to incorporate as an entity so that it can be more effective in developing Latino based community assets (can be the applicant on grant proposals, develop its own resources, develop its own governance and administrative structure, etc.} Formalize IWF's working relationship with the LFN in a letter of agreement. Host a community leadership conference with Heritage University in November of 2013. The conference will have a major farming component and several government and community organizations are invited to attend and present including regional representatives from the RMA, FSA, and Washington State Dept. of Agriculture. Work with the LFN to expand and develop the initiatives and programs we have started together including the peer mentorship program, the direct marketing initiative, and the leadership/civic engagement roundtable.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Latinos have become a significant portion of the population (in many cases the majority) and the social and economic backbone of many agricultural communities. Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit and with the support of strong personal relationships, Latinos have become the fastest growing ethnic group in farming in the nation. This new generation of Latino farmers tends toward small and sustainable operations and they are innovators in production. The overarching impact of our project is to facilitate the success of Latino farming enterprises in Washington State and thereby accelerate the economic growth and renewal of our rural communities, as they survive and thrive. Toward this end IWF engaged over 50 new Latino owned food and farming enterprises this reporting period. In addition we engaged with 15 established Latino farmers who are interested in supporting these new enterprises and working with IWF and project partners to develop a network that will support the development and expansion of Latino farming enterprises in our State. IWF continued to organize the Latino Farmers Network and to provide technical assistance, imp lement an information and referral system, and provide leadership development training. Heritage University provided technical assistance and hosted community meeting and conversations. The Latino Farmers Network offered mentorship services and facilitated collaboration on community asset building among participants. Spanish speaking, public radio, KDNA and branch managers from Key Bank assisted with outreach to the target aucience. This work has impacted the knowledge, actions, and conditions of all 65 participants this reporting period:. they now have a much broader understanding and knowledge of the business of farming in the U.S. and the resources available to them , they have collaborated in direct marketing and transportation of their products and in personal and business relationship building, and finally, they have taken the first steps toward building an entity that can effectively develop Latino based community assets and public advocacy. We have documented the following specific impacts during this reporting period: · 50 farmers received peer mentorship services from the Latino Farmers Network and/or technical assistance and have a better understanding of the importance of farm planning. · 65 farmers received marketing information from IWF and project partners which effected their farm planning. · 16 farming enterprises participated with IWF in a direct marketing initiative focused on the urban market of Seattle. This marketing initiative included several meetings and two workshops. Four farmers sold produce to three customers as of the end of August, 2013. Two promotional events are planned for the 2014 growing season. · 15 established Latino Producers participated in three meetings to discuss leadership development, civic engagement, and community asset building among Latino farmers.

Publications

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Our targeted Latino farming group, the Cooperativa de Productores Organicos del Valle Alto (CPOVA), planted, harvested, and marketed a vegetable crop on a 4-acre farm in Tieton, producing roughly $3,000 in revenues. CPOVA members formed market relationships with grocers, produce stands, and restaurants in the Yakima and Seattle areas. The growers purchased a greenhouse to incubate seedlings. CPOVA was organized by a group of roughly 20 Latino farm workers and small business owners. CPOVA members wrote a farm management plan enabling them to obtain organic certification for the farm. IWF negotiated an arrangement with the City of Tieton allowing CPOVA to farm city land for free in the first year of operation. IWF helped CPOVA organize as a corporate entity in Washington State. CPOVA accessed legal consultation from Columbia Legal Services. IWF provided on-farm mentoring throughout the 2012 growing season, both from IWF farm manager Kevin Fullerton and from local experienced growers IWF recruited for assistance. CPOVA members attended the 2011 Washington Tilth Conference and classes sponsored by the Washington State University Extension Service. IWF engaged in an ongoing collaboration with Heritage University to provide technical assistance for local growers and plan for a farm incubator. Working with Heritage students, IWF made contact with just over 50 Latino farmers and farm workers in the region - informing them of the educational resources being developed and inquiring about obstacles to farm ownership. IWF staff initiated several strategy meetings with Heritage officials, including a meeting with university president John Bassett. The discussions culminated in letters of intent to co-organize a farm incubation center in the Yakima region. IWF organized a marketing seminar for Yakima-area growers at season's end that joined experienced Latino farmers with beginners to discuss successful marketing strategies, profitable vegetable crops, and price forecasts for 2013. The intent is to provide new growers hard market data allowing them to form business plans for the 2013 season. IWF partnered with Heritage University students engaged in a national program - Entrepreneurs in Action (formerly Students in Free Enterprise) - that prepares college students to teach entrepreneurial skills in disadvantaged communities. The students helped with outreach to beginning farmers this year and plan to provide technical services to growers beginning next year. The students conducted a vegetable marketing survey in Seattle and will participate in IWF's marketing seminar in December. PARTICIPANTS: Kevin Fullerton directed the planning and operation of the CPOVA farm business, including market consultation and recruitment of professional resources. He directed the strategic application of educational resources provided through BFRDP funding, which included collaborative efforts with other nonprofits and university extension services. Sean Hopps directed outreach and recruitment of Latino farmers and organized the collaborative efforts of IWF and Heritage University to plan for a farm incubation center. Don Hopps served as overall program administrator, writing and administering the budget and ensuring accomplishment of grant deliverables. Miguel Urquiza performed outreach and recruitment of Latino farmers. Bevin Mcleod managed finances and provided various backup support services for IWF field staff. Hipolito Martinez served on the CPOVA executive committee and directed its farm operations, including marketing and outreach. Sybele Martinez served on the CPOVA executive committee and helped with farm operations and marketing efforts. Peggy Peterson served on the CPOVA executive committee and managed farm finances. Len Black leads the Heritage University ENACTUS program and was instrumental in organizing meetings among IWF and Heritage staff, ensuring delivery of technical assistance from Heritage students, planning IWF's marketing seminar, and strategic thinking for the farm incubation concept. Malaquias Flores helped organize and recruit participants for the IWF marketing seminar on behalf of Washington State University Extension services. Viva Farms operates a farm incubator near Mt Vernon, Washington, and provided a tour of the facility and ongoing consultation to IWF. Viva Farms director Sarita Role-Schaffer recruited experienced vegetable farmers to present at the IWF marketing seminar. Columbia Legal Services provided legal advice to CPOVA pertaining to its organizational structure. Mighty Tieton is a civic organization in Tieton that helped arrange for CPOVA to acquire use of city land for its first year of operation. Tieton Mayor Stan Hall initiated the agreement between CPOVA and the city allowing CPOVA to farm city land. ENACTUS program students assisted with organization and outreach for the IWF marketing seminar and have met frequently with IWF staff to discuss ways for technical services to be provided to growers in the Yakima Valley on an ongoing basis. The students also performed a marketing survey of Seattle grocers and restaurants for Yakima Valley growers. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience were CPOVA members and other Latino farm workers and small entrepreneurs. Efforts on behalf of the target audience include: IWF arranged an agreement with the City of Tieton allowing CPOVA to farm city land for one year. IWF arranged consultation from Washington State University Extension prior to planting to provide CPOVA members market information and point them to available resources IWF arranged consultation with Columbia Legal Services to review CPOVA's structural organization IWF in partnership with WSU and Heritage University organized a marketing seminar at end of season in which experienced Latino vegetable growers shared market information and direct-marketing strategies with CPOVA members and other beginning Latino growers. IWF identified more than 50 potential Latino farmers seeking farm training and orientation, making them aware of the CPOVA project and the educational services being planned through this BFRDP project. IWF explored vegetable markets for CPOVA in Seattle, facilitating sales and consulting on appropriate presentation and harvest. IWF arranged for CPOVA growers to attend the 2011 Tilth Conference free of charge. IWF provided on-farm consultation on growing and harvesting during the summer, helping growers better connect with Seattle buyers. IWF farm programs manager Kevin Fullerton attended a 9-week farm planning course taught by WSU to aid his consulations with CPOVA. The courses were available only in the Seattle area and not easily accessible by CPOVA growers. IWF arranged for Heritage ENACTUS students to tour the Viva Farms farm incubator. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: 1.) The focus of Year 1 shifted from developing CPOVA into a farm training organization to helping CPOVA plant, harvest, and market a vegetable crop. IWF initially believed that CPOVA had capacity to both operate a farm and establish an educational program for less experienced farmers at the farm site. However, it became clear that CPOVA did not have sufficient resources. Part of the problem was a shortage of labor caused by key CPOVA members defecting to operate their own ventures or pick fruit for local orchards. This left CPOVA with barely enough capacity to manage the farm; they were not able to sell at farmers markets or set up a farmstand. IWF farm project manager Kevin Fullerton therefore located buyers in Seattle and helped CPOVA with sales, consulting with CPOVA on appropriate pricing, presentation, and quality. Fullerton also put CPOVA in contact with other local organic vegetable growers who provided critical guidance. IWF turned to Heritage University as a partner in developing and supporting the farmer incubation program. Heritage's SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) program had already committed to providing technical services for this project, but discussions with program leader Len Black indicated Heritage was interested in engaging at a broader and more permanent level. IWF proposed that Heritage dedicate surplus campus property as a farm incubation site, that SIFE students provide ongoing business planning services for beginning farmers, and that IWF and Heritage jointly explore development of an Agricultural Business Center. Heritage University president John Bassett gave his assent to proceed with planning, which is now ongoing. 2.) A central project goal is to organize Latino farmers into an association that engages at the political and civic levels, focusing attention on the need for educational resources to help the growing Latino population gain an entrepreneurial foothold. IWF determined that it was premature to begin organizing in the first year because the policy objectives of such a group are not clear to the target audience, most of whom have not yet experienced business ownership. IWF is instead encouraging development of a Yakima Valley marketing cooperative for small and beginning Latino growers. Such an organization has several benefits potentially leading to greater organizational efforts in the future. (1) a marketing cooperative provides an easily recognized purpose for working together, i.e., creating the ability for small, inexperienced growers to sell into high-end urban markets that are otherwise difficult; (2) a cooperative facilitates accumulation and dissemination of vegetable marketing information in the Yakima Valley, which IWF identified as the primary missing element for beginning Latino farmers, (3) a cooperative is a natural outreach tool for recruiting beginning Latino farmers to vegetables production, and; (4) a cooperative provides an outlet for provision of technical training and assistance. In short, a marketing cooperative seems to be the best way to provide incentive for Latino farmers to support a common effort, and a foundation for advanced cooperative efforts in the future.

Impacts
Finding: Meetings with the CPOVA leadership through the fall of 2011 revealed that the group did not possess the capacity to manage an educational program. IWF hoped that CPOVA would both operate a farm and recruit additional beginning farmers to work on "educational" plots, but starting the farm business was a sufficient challenge. The situation was complicated by a lucrative apple harvest that pulled CPOVA members away from the farm project (see next Finding). Impact: IWF turned to Heritage University as a partner in forming a farm incubation center. Heritage students engaged in the national ENACTUS program (formerly SIFE) were already involved in the BFRDP project as technical service providers. Heritage University President John Bassett decided to further integrate Heritage into beginning farmer training, approving exploration of a "permanent institution" that would provide agricultural business development in the Yakima valley. IWF and Heritage signed letters of intent to pursue creation of an educational facility. Finding: Seasonal farm work is a major distraction for beginning Latino farmers in the target area. A shortage of fruit pickers combined with high wages undermined CPOVA's efforts to marshal workers on the farm. Impact: Marketing initiative suffered, as CPOVA members struggled to keep up with basic farm maintenance and harvest. Production, quality, and delivery could not be guaranteed, eliminating market options such as sales to high-end grocers and farmers markets. However, CPOVA discovered a network of smaller, independent buyers in Seattle that allowed it to move a significant amount of produce and gain marketing experience. Finding: Latino growers in the target area tend to have farming skills and understand basic business organization. What they lack is an understanding of high-end produce markets in urban areas. They were impatient with curricula designed by the local extension service, feeling that classroom teaching of basic business strategy was not helpful. Impact: IWF focused on helping CPOVA organize and operate a commercial farm so that new growers could assess educational needs for themselves. At season's end, IWF in cooperation with Heritage students and WSU Extension organized an informal "marketing seminar" at which experienced growers will share real-time market data with beginners so they can better plan next year's crop. Finding: High-end markets for organic produce is virtually nonexistent in the target area, especially for basic staples such as tomatoes, corn, squash, and chile peppers. Yakima Valley organic vegetables are relatively rare in Seattle, however, and can find underserved markets. Impact: IWF identified independent grocers and farm stands that do not require large or regular shipments and prefer buying from small farms. CPOVA members learned the quality and freshness required, the necessary packaging, and the disadvantage of growing crops typical of the region, which are in surplus during the summer. CPOVA advertised a "Yakima Farm Box" on Facebook, allowing individual customers to order a mixed box of vegetables for home delivery. This proved a success and will be repeated.

Publications

• No publications reported this period