Free Farmer Outreach/Marketing Services to Build Your Brand, Increase Know-Your-Farmer Relationships & Open New Sales Opportunities
Aloha Farmers – with USDA support, One Island’s ‘Same Canoe Local Food Challenge’ is bringing over $52,000 in direct sales revenues to farmers during an 8 month food security pilot project. We invite you to benefit by becoming pre-qualified to receive the USDA funds available for purchases June 15, 2015-February 15, 2016.
We listened to what Farmers are asking for: “Bring us MORE customers wanting to purchase fresh Island grown produce that builds the local food system and supports local farmers.”
Same Canoe is the result of that request. The Project’s goal is to increase consumer readiness to choose locally grown over imported foods and thereby increase local farmer income, community well-being, sustainable agriculture AND island food security.
How it Works
First, the larger, over-arching campaign of the Challenge is to “Double It!” and encourages EVERYONE to double their purchase of locally grown and made Hawaii Island foods. Same Canoe is your advocate for GROW LOCAL / BUY LOCAL / EAT LOCAL. The Challenge is hosting a FOOD SURVEY that we invite farmers’ to also respond to and be entered in monthly drawings for local food rewards.
Second, we are enrolling SNAP participants who use EBT cards to collect up to $120 in fresh food purchase receipts from any retailer and redeem those receipts for $60 in Farmers’ Market or CSA produce plus redeem the other $60 for fresh produce purchased during farm tours and educational workshops. That means each SNAP household enrolled is investing $240 in fresh produce with at least $120 of it being locally grown.
EVERYONE is invited to the workshops and tours so we anticipate even more dollars coming directly to farmers for farm direct fresh food purchases.
Farmer Benefits
Enrolled farmers will receive free outreach and marketing support to draw new consumers to their Farmer’s Market booth, farm stand or on-shelf retailed product lines to make cash and EBT purchases. Same Canoe handles all of the consumer engagement work and hosts special events to build appreciation and understanding of the critical importance of supporting small farms.
Farmers selling through the Hawi, Kona Sunset or South Kona Green Markets can benefit by receiving new customer support plus Same Canoe tokens for up to $60 per SNAP household. Farmers will redeem those coupons for paid reimbursement checks issued by One Island on behalf of Same Canoe, thanks to USDA support.
Interest in Community Supported Agriculture?
You don’t need to start your own CSA. There are two CSA subscriber projects serving North West Hawaii Island who need your produce and we encourage you to contact them. They are currently serving over 300 households with goals to serve over 1200. Their EBT users will be using Same Canoe coupons to stretch their food dollars and both the DA BOX hosted by the Food Basket and FRESH FEAST hosted by Adaptations are looking for more growers to help expand their CSA offerings.
To request an enrollment form, attend a Farm Stakeholder meeting or email
hawaii@oneisland.org or call Stephen at 328-2452
Farm Stakeholder Meetings
Friday, June 12th, 4pm at Amy B Greenwell Garden, Captain Cook
Saturday, June 27th, 4pm at the Algood Barn in Hawi
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