Finca goes to Farm Stop
Written by Dan Garcia-Prats
In mid-February, Nadia and I braved the northern cold to attend the Farm Stop Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hosted and organized by Argus Farm Stop, this 2-day conference brings together organizations and farmers from all over the country to learn, connect, and discuss the growing Farm Stop Movement.
The Farm Stop Model was developed in an attempt to find more sustainable ways for farmers needing to develop reliable sales channels to connect with communities looking for ways to purchase locally grown foods and where traditional retail models have struggled to make ends meet. It’s meant to be a hybrid between a farmers market and retail location, allowing farmers to sell their produce under their own brand without needing to staff a booth while reducing some of the risk and overhead retail locations take on. The Farm Stop sells produce on consignment from local farmers and provides 70% of the sales price back to the farmers with the remaining 30% meant to help the location meet its financial needs to staff and run the storefront.
We visited and got an in-depth tour of one of their Argus Farm Stop locations to learn about how the store operates, how they coordinate and promote their farmers, and what lessons they have learned over the last 15 years of operating. As we continue to develop our own storefront, there were some really unique signage, storage, and growth opportunities we gleaned and hope to leverage and implement at our own store operation.
The conference days offered a number of different speakers that covered topics such as how to source from farmers, understanding who shops at farm stops, financial strategies and organization, food access and affordability programs, and food policy discussions that can support our farmers and communities produce and access the fresh foods they deserve. The presenters came from all different types of organizations within the movement and offered their unique experiences and backgrounds as learning opportunities for those of us attending.
One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speech on Day 2 from Stacey Abrams, who is working to open three (3) farm stop locations in Georgia and offered an inspirational perspective on how her love for democracy, equality, and justice coincide with the mission of the Farm Stop Movement to find innovative solutions that support both the farmers producing our food and the communities who seek sustainable, reliable, equitable, and healthy food options.
We were by far the furthest south of any of the visitors, as this model has begun gaining a foot-hold primarily in the midwest and northeast with an estimated 27 farm stop locations across the United States. (We were also the only representatives from Texas!)
One of the most striking aspects of the conference was the vast diversity of communities seeking solutions on how to provide such a fundamental necessity to their community; whether they were in urban or rural areas, farmer organized or community led, nonprofit or low profit, well funded or boot strapping it, all of these communities are struggling to find ways to make fresh, locally produced food available and affordable in their area.
It was inspiring to connect with others doing some of the same work as Small Places and share whatever we can to support each other. While the problem is vast, I am hopeful that there are good people in communities all across the nation working together in a shared effort to make positive and long-lasting change.