If you’re in the non-profit, social enterprise, or community economic development sector, you know how valuable collaboration can be. Here are the steps to starting a community project that supports your mission and local food system.
1. Understand your community food environment
Before supply, comes demand. Take the time to gauge the need for freshly grown produce in your community by talking with community members, grocery stores, co-ops, farmers markets, local restaurants, and other businesses, like caterers or schools, that source food. Before you begin these conversations, know what produce - from broccoli to basil - is possible with a Growcer system by checking our Cultivars Guide.
Getting a feel for demand will also help you set a price point for your product.
2.Determine financial feasibility of the project
Once you’ve gathered enough information from your community, it’s time to turn your ideas into action. Our team will help you to examine how to meet your local demand best and what you can expect to earn with your operation.
Consistency, profitability, and sustainability are the key pillars of success for your project. When it comes to outside funding, it’s essential to know what funding options are available before you start. Several of the Growcer’s past community projects have successfully incorporated outside funding to launch or supplement training costs.
3.Present to your colleagues, community, board, or funders
Community food projects require communal and organizational support, and this becomes a team effort. To ensure the presentation to your board or discussions with your colleagues, are successful, our team can provide or co-create all the necessary support and materials. We can help you pull together custom slide decks with project-specific financials so you can paint a clear picture of what this project will look like and the benefits for your community.
You can schedule a 3D tour of the system to get an in-depth look at our technology.
