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Objective 2.C
Develop regional supply, purchasing and distribution infrastructure to build local/regional food systems.

Proposed Places to Start in 2008:
1.    Work with a network of food business entrepreneurs, like the ROC Business Council, to complete a value chain gap analysis and a capital source map and database.  Design a plan for a sustainable food business incubator. Identify partners, initial projects, resources, and funding.

Potential Future Actions 2009-2012:
2.    Create sustainable food business incubators (2-4) that support the development of:
a.    Dozens of regional distributors.
b.    An abundance of microprocessors. Innovative processing and packaging equipment as well as legal infrastructure must be designed to meet the needs of new micro-enterprises.
3.    Support the development of sample business plans for new or expanding ventures seeking to form new value chains, and make them readily available.
4.    Create an online regional sourcing tool to aggregate products for CA purchasers.  Develop a cost-efficient sourcing system to bring sustainable products to mid-size markets. This system could be brokered by non-profits and supply cooperatives, with on-line communications to help establish initial relationships between buyers and large, medium or aggregated small producers.
5.    Create a project that supports small- and mid-sized farmers in forming business models that aggregate supply opportunities, similar to ALBA and Capay. Small fishers, farmers and ranchers wanting to diversify their revenue base by supplying the wholesale market aggregate their harvests to get products to market.  Connect this project with business incubators.
6.    Create direct market districts throughout the state.  Work with CDFA to organize its efforts and data collection systems not only by county or agricultural district – but also by “market districts” and accompanying farm areas or “foodsheds” to service those urban marketplaces. Research and map what these geographic and economic districts might look like. This would CDFA to identify and cultivate thousands of direct-market buyers and link buyers with growers through direct market events, print and on-line market linkage services.
7.    Create a statewide non-profit focused on developing new customer bases for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This group would support neighborhood buying clubs as well as individuals, linking thousands of consumers directly to agriculture.
8.    Support local land use planners to create land use policy that leads to the creation of regional supply purchasing and distribution infrastructure.  
 
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