Black Farm Bureau

THE MISSION OF BLACK FOOD SOVEREIGNTY COALITION (BFSC) IS TO IGNITE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE AS OWNERS & MOVEMENT LEADERS WITH FOOD SYSTEMS, PLACEMAKING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BLACK FUTURES FARM IS A SPACE FOR GROWING FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGING BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE LAND, AND PROVIDING A HEALING AND REJUVENATION SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HIGHLIGHTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDE: BLACK SUNDAYS- REGULAR SUNDAY COMMUNITY FARMING AND CONNECTION EXPERIENCES FOR BLACK PEOPLE WERE HELD- OVER 400 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN WEEKDAY FARM MAINTENANCE, BUILDING, PLANTING AND HARVESTING ACTIVITIES HOSTING A CSA PROGRAM FOR 25 FAMILIES PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS- PEOPLES FOOD CO-OP FARMERS MARKET, ROCKY BUTTE FARMERS MARKET, COME THRU BIPOC MARKET, BREATHE POP-UP MARKETS DONATING PRODUCE FROM THE FARM TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS- OVER 1,500 LBS. DONATED PARTNERED WITH GREEN THUMB AND LETTUCE GROW TO GROW PLANT STARTS FOR VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INITIATED BLACK FUTURES FARM ONLINE COMMUNITY SKILL SHARE SERIES INITIATED WORK ON A LONG TERM PLAN OF BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, GREEN ENERGY ORGANIC FARMING INFRASTRUCTURE- SOLAR POWERED OPERATIONS AND ELECTRIFICATION OF ALL EQUIPMENT (SECURED PORTLAND CLEAN ENERGY FUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING GRANTS COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS ON RACIAL EQUITY NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS IN THE FOOD SYSTEM INSTALLED A NEW STORAGE SHED, WASH AND PACK STATION, AND COMMUNITY EVENT SPACE

RED BLACK AND GREEN FREEDOM FARM AT HOWELL TERRITORIAL PARK THE RBG FREEDOM FARM IS A FARMING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPACE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR. HIGHLIGHTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDE: SUPPORTING 16 BIPOC GROWERS IN DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING THEIR FARMING OPERATIONS; INCLUDING SEVEN WATERS CANOE FAMILY, HAPPINESS FAMILY FARMS, POSHINES, VILLAGE GARDEN GARDENERS, KWELE FAMILY FARM, AND MOORISH ROOTS FARM FACILITATING COMMUNITY BUILDING THROUGH WEEKLY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION GATHERINGS OFFERING BASIC SKILLS TRAINING TO FARMERS IN THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THE FARMING; LIVESTOCK, COMPOST, GREENHOUSE, ORCHARD MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION, SPECIALTY CROPS, AND NATIVE FLOWER PRODUCTION HOSTING MORE 200 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ESTABLISHING A USDA ALIGNED FARM PLAN FOR ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION DEVELOPING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS WITH WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BUSINESS TO SOURCE FOODS FOR LARGE AND SMALL RESTAURANTS AND VALUE ADDED FOOD VENDORS IMPROVING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND SITE INFRASTRUCTURE USING LOCAL BIPOC SKILLED TRADESPEOPLE- BUILDING CO-PACKING INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPANDING GREENHOUSE AND HOOP HOUSE CAPACITY, PURCHASING FARM EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS TO GET THEIR PRODUCE TO MORE DIVERSE MARKETS IN THE REGION.

REDD PROGRAMMINGPROGRAMMING AT THE REDD IN SE PORTLAND FOCUSED ON THREE AREAS: DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETS FOR BIPOC PRODUCERS; SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FARMERS MOVING TO MARKETS; & COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY THROUGH FOOD STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. HIGHLIGHTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDE:MARKETS THE COME THRU MARKET AT THE REDD WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 & WAS REPEATED IN 2021. OVER 3,300 PEOPLE VISITED THE MORE THAN 24 BIPOC VENDORS DURING THE 7 MARKET EVENTS IN 2020. THE MARKET GENERATED $45,315 IN SALES, INCLUDING $11,490 OF FRESH PRODUCE SALES FROM BIPOC FARMERS. THE MARKET GREW IN 2021- OVER 40 BIPOC VENDORS PARTICIPANT IN TWICE MONTH EVENTS RUNNING FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. BFSC WORKED WITH MULTNOMAH COUNTY REACH, PLAY GROW LEARN, & OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROCKWOOD FOOD SYSTEMS NETWORK TO PLAN & LAUNCH THE PEOPLES MARKET AT ROCKWOOD DURING THE 2021 JUNETEENTH WEEK. OVER 35 BLACK AND IMMIGRANT FOOD GROWERS AND ENTREPRENEURS SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE. FARMER DEVELOPMENT BFSC SUPPORTED TWO GROUPS OF 10-12 BIPOC AND AFRICAN IMMIGRANT PRODUCERS IN FARM TO MARKET CAPACITY BUILDING- PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND MENTORING TO SUPPORT THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS MARKET SELLERS; AND HANDS ON SUPPORT INCLUDING PURCHASING MARKET SIGNAGE, STORAGE, AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT.COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY BFSC PARTNERED WITH THE BIPOC DECOLONIZING DATA COUNCIL, SEVEN WATERS CANOE FAMILY, NATIVE WELLNESS INSTITUTE, & THE COALITION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO DEVELOP & IMPLEMENT A PROJECT TO COLLECT COVID-19 COMMUNITY-BASED STORIES & PROVIDE NUTRITION & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19. THE PROJECT FOCUSED ON FACILITATING IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL STORY GATHERINGS PAIRED WITH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY BY CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TO TRADITIONAL CULTURAL FOODS. THIS PROJECT ALSO BUILT ON THE WORK OF THE SEVEN WATERS CANOE FAMILY & OTHER GROWERS AT THE RBG FARM PROGRAM SITE- BUILDING REFRIGERATED FOOD STORAGE AND FOOD TRANSPORTATION/DELIVERY CAPACITY. BFSC COLLABORATED WITH EQUITABLE GIVING CIRCLE (EGC) TO BUILD A SMALL FARM PICK-UP AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM USING ELECTRIC OR ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES. THIS EFFORT WAS REDIRECTED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. FUNDS USED TO HIRE CONTRACT POC DRIVERS, CSA PACKERS, LOADER/HARVESTERS, AND COVER THE START-UP COSTS OF SECURING SPACE AT B-LINE WAREHOUSE AT REDD WEST. THIS EFFORT PROVIDED WEEKLY EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE FOR NEARLY 500 FAMILIES THROUGH DIRECT DELIVERY AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING BIPOC COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN RESPONSE TO THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT, EGC LAUNCHED THEIR OWN FORMAL FOOD EMERGENCY PROGRAM CENTERED ON BIPOC COMMUNITIES. BFSC WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE SURPLUS FRESH PRODUCE FROM COME THRU MARKET DAYS & USE THIS FOOD IN THE BIPOC FOOD CHAIN PROJECT TO SUPPLEMENT FOOD BOXES THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY- ADDING LOCALLY SOURCED, BIPOC GROWN, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, FOOD TO SUPPORT BIPOC COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BFSC BEGAN RENOVATION OF A MOBILE FOOD BUS- EQUIPPED WITH A KITCHEN, FOOD STORAGE AREA, PREP TABLES, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION AREA. THIS BUS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO PROVIDE PREPARED FOOD FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SERVE AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCE, AND SUPPORT FOOD PRODUCERS IN REACHING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH CULTURALLY FOCUSED MENU ITEMS. BFSC PROVIDED TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCE CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL PORTLAND METRO, SW WASHINGTON, AND PUGET SOUND FARMERS AND PRODUCERS AS THEY DEALT WITH THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; PROVIDING SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS THROUGH CO-PACKING SPACE AND REFRIGERATED STORAGE FOR PERISHABLE GOODS. BLACK FUTURES FARM AND RBG FREEDOM FARM HAS ALSO DIRECTLY DONATED PRODUCE FROM THE FARMS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS.