CSA in NYC Conference

Lunch Session 2: Donating your CSA’s Extra Food Facilitators: Andrew Barret- NYC Coalition Against Hunger Carrette Perkins- NYC Coalition Against Hunger Terri White- Crown Heights North/South CSAs Chef Michael Ennes- Broadway Community Cares Tonice Sgrignoli- Astoria CSA

Challenges  Transportation-many EFPs need the food donations to be delivered.  Scheduling- many EFPs have erratic hours  Timing- many EFPs don’t have refrigeration, which requires timely dispersion and coordination  CSA logistics- when donating becomes a bigger hassle than it’s worth  EFPs need volume. If there is not enough food for all, they can not serve to just some.

Solutions/Logistics  Put CSA pick up sites at EFP sites to address transportation and timing concerns  Have pick up day the same day or day before the EFP delivery will be made to address timing  Develop relationship with EFP site and coordinate more than just food donations ie: Terri White gave example of George’s Place in Crown Heights doing composting and roof gardening in coordination with CSA.  Think outside the box! Not just EFPs need/use food donations. Try senior centers, adult care facilities, culinary programs, charter schools, Montessori schools, day care centers, Adult Ed, group homes etc.  Use CSA member connections to reach out to donation sites.  Use donations as a way of outreach to try to bring people from donation sites into CSAs through sliding scales etc.  Be patient. Keep communication lines open and strong. Find the right ‘marriage’ between CSA and donation site.  Use CSA volunteer hours for jobs like delivery to donation sites, relationship cultivation with donation sites, outreach.  JustFood could initiate/organize/create database partnering CSAs with donation sites

Resources Etc. www.nyccah.org (hunger maps) www.ampleharvest.org (connecting growers with donation sites) See work being done by: Broadway Community Cares and CSAs George’s Place with Crown Heights CSA Astoria CSA with Astoria Food Bank