The Good Acre's team provided 1:1 training and support on relevant recordkeeping for small, specialty crop growers in our region. We covered risk management topics such as product and enterprise diversification, financial record keeping, economics of input decisions, cost of production, and insurance opportunities.
Our primary method used to deliver content was 1:1 conversations with farmers where we provide technical assistance, but we also hosted multiple trainings for our network of growers that focused on food safety, post-harvest handling and business practices, where these topics were also discussed. We also were able to provide resources to many of these growers, and others, in the form of record keeping books provided free to farmers, as well as online equivalents when appropriate.
Our target audience was BIPOC specialty crop producers, and 100% of the participants in this program met the USDA's definition of Socially Disadvantaged or Veteran Farmer/Rancher. We met with a larger number of growers than proposed, but were able to meet with them fewer times due to the increased numbers, which is why we used larger gatherings to do some of the education and follow-up.