The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is a decentralized competitive grants and education program operating in every state and island protectorate. SARE is divided into four different regions that operate as separate entities and run grant programs for their states. Southern SARE Producer Grant offers competitive grants and educational opportunities for producers, researchers, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s South, Puerto Rico and U.S....
read more“Running a Food Hub: Learning from Food Hub Closures”
As the final report in the “Running a Food Hub” series, this document highlights case studies of food hubs that have ceased operations and the factors that lead to their closure. The intent of this report is to share the experiences of these hubs to help new hubs overcome barriers to success. The report profiles six hubs: Aganica Farm Club, FoodEx, Grasshoppers Distribution, Growers Collaborative, Pilot Mountain Pride, and Producers & Buyers Co-op. Matson Consulting authored the case study on Pilot Mountain Pride. A copy of the full...
read moreFrom Barley to Beer: A Guide for On Farm Brewing
Completed in cooperation with the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VA FAIRS) and the Loudoun County Farm Bureau, “From Barely to Beer: A Guide for On Farm Brewing” looks at the feasibility of expanding a Virginia farm brewery to including malt production. The study offers a full examination and analysis of the malting and brewing industries, business operations, facility design, regulations, and other factors required for the successful establishment and operation of such a venture. The...
read moreFeasibility Analysis of a Prototypical Chestnut Cooperative
Completed in cooperation with the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VA FAIRS), the “Feasibility Analysis of a Prototypical Chestnut Cooperative” reviews the economic and technical possibilities of establishing a prototypical chestnut selling cooperative in Virginia. The study takes a comprehensive look at all aspects of the project required to create a successful venture including the chestnut industry, farmer need, business organization and operation options, sales and marketing strategies,...
read more“Running a Food Hub: Assessing Financial Viability”
This publication is the third in the “Running a Food Hub” series from USDA Rural Development. The report examines the financial viability of new and existing food hubs, and serves as a companion piece to the other USDA reports on food hubs. Through industry research, interviews, and discussions, this report provides benchmarks which growing food hubs can use to see how financial changes impact operations. It is divided into three sections: Methods of Analysis, Operational Models, and Operational Models and Periods Comparison....
read more“New Poultry Processing Plant Bolsters Virginia’s Small-Scale Producers”
This article in the January/February 2016 issue of the USDA Rural Cooperatives Magazine discusses the work of Matson Consulting and VA FAIRS in helping Shenandoah Processing become a vital part of the Virginia poultry industry. Shenandoah Processing began in 2013 as an organic chicken processing plant designed to help smaller scale producers more easily get their product into the market. The founder, Corwin Heatwole, received assistance through the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant, and has used this help to turn his business into an...
read more“Agricultural Development Board Guide”
Matson Consulting, along with the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VA FAIRS), has recently created a guide that examines and shares the experience of county-based agricultural economic development in Virginia. Although this information focuses on areas in Virginia, the lessons and strategies presented can be applied and shared with agricultural development groups nationwide. The guide has been released and will be presented at numerous meetings and conferences. This project is a collaboration of the...
read more“Buying Local?”
Jim Matson along with Jake Brimlow, with Chico State University created this paper using buyer survey data from two geographically distinct regions to provide insight into two developing areas of research in local food system development: estimating indirect demand for local food, and the importance of food safety as a barrier to local food markets. The findings of this research were presented at the AAEA Annual Meeting in July. Click here to view “Buying Local?”.
read more“Running a Food Hub: A Business Operations Guide”
This publication is the second in the “Running a Food Hub” series from USDA Rural Development. The report is a business operations guide for food hubs that serves as a companion piece to other United States Department of Agriculture reports on food hubs by providing in-depth guidance on starting and running a food hub enterprise. The report’s main focus is on the operational issues faced by food hubs, including choosing an organizational structure, choosing a location, deciding on infrastructure and equipment, logistics and transportation,...
read more“Running a Food Hub: Lessons Learned from the Field”
This document represents actions to fill the void of current research on food hub operations and day-to-day lessons learned from those individuals starting and operating food hubs. “Lessons Learned from the Field” reports the findings from in depth interviews with 13 food hub ventures from across the nation. The interviews conducted with each food hub were guided by a list of pre-selected topics that were common to all the interviews, but as new topics were identified, additional questions were asked to further probe and capture the unique...
read moreContact Us
Ph: (803) 233-7134
Fax: (803) 233-7938
jmatson@matsonconsult.com
P.O. Box 661
Aiken, SC 29802
