A farmer’s most valuable resource is time. Every hour spent on taxes, legal issues, or grant applications is an hour not spent growing and selling food.

Tennessee Local Food is committed to building a suite of services that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens.

From our earliest days, farmers have been asking for a space to connect, and consumers have sought a way to engage more deeply with the local food movement. A membership model will create that shared space.

Farmers will gain access to resources, networking opportunities, and collective advocacy, while consumers and partners can support a stronger food system. There is power in organized membership: when food system stakeholders connect, they gain a stronger voice and accelerate solutions that no single farm could tackle alone.

Farmers, like all businesses, need access to reliable markets to survive. Yet, many small and mid-sized farmers lack the capacity to market their products effectively or identify the sales channels that best fit their operations. 

With our statewide network of food system stakeholders, we will support farmers by providing market matchmaking and coordination, relationship building, prospecting, and advocacy to strengthen market access and create equitable growth opportunities.

To meet the growing need for disaster recovery support, we will expand and diversify the Fund’s donor base, while also increasing awareness among partners and supporters. Strengthening this program ensures a safety net for local food production during times of crisis. 

To achieve these ambitious priorities, Tennessee Local Food will strengthen its internal capacity. With only two part-time staff members, the demand for support currently exceeds our operational bandwidth. Our immediate priority is to focus capacity on measuring and communicating impact to funders and partners, building a compelling case for greater investment.