Indie Creators in the JoyZone...Tony Damico {Long Beach Fresh}

Tune in Tony Damico from Long Beach Fresh on #IndieCreatorsintheJoyZone Hosted by Tom Ardavany and Suzanne ToroCheck out their great work at http://LBFresh.orgAbout Long Beach Fresh...Map Needs & OpportunitiesConstantly obtain wish lists, needs, opportunities from stakeholders and potential partners. Matchmake and publicize those needs & opportunities. Our goal is not to “be the solution” but instead, “bridge the solution.”Inventory Assets & Create Directory of Local FoodInventory local farms, businesses and organizations who comprise the Long Beach food scene. Promote, educate and recruit using this information.Establish MetricsEstablish key performance indicators including: local meals eaten; food grown; urban farm acreage; survey habits and attitudes; etc. Publicize data via infographics and reports.Establish Relationships to Greater CommunityOutreach to hundreds of businesses, neighborhood groups, city officials and education institutions to connect them to local food resources.Best Practices/Models LibraryArchive templates, models and best practices to help the public initiate food projects such as starting a community garden, hosting tree plantings, sourcing farm-to-table menus, etc.Capacity BuildingWork with food community stakeholders to build their capacity, overcome obstacles, and connect with new programs, resources and people who can help them grow.Consumer Awareness MarketingLeverage local news, social media and our partners to help the public find and use local foods at multiple price points, at any time of year.Convening of Local Food LeadersMeet face-to-face with local feed leaders for two-way communication and whole-community open collaboration. Form Workgroup meetings for Eaters, Feeders and Seeders to concentrate on more specific issues. (Visit our Events page for upcoming Workgroup meetings, or Contact Us for more information.)Local Food WebsiteArchive all of the above information on a website that connects local eaters, feeders and seeders with information, resources, and each other. (This is that website…stay connected with us to watch new resources come online.)What We Don’t DoLB Fresh is a facilitating group. It’s important to note that we will not do the following:Duplicate Existing Programs and ServicesWe do not replicate existing services or launch competitive fundraising campaigns. For example, we will not open the “Long Beach Fresh Community Garden;” instead it is our job to support existing and burgeoning gardens.Create New BureaucracyWe enable people in the local food movement to self-start new initiatives and collaborate directly with one another to solve problems.Gatekeep Access to ResourcesWe will be fully transparent about opportunities, statistics and resources that we identify.Dictate to the Food Community What It Needs and Who It IsOur goal is to help organizations fulfill their own missions and connect organizations more deeply with all aspects of the local food economy.#suzannetoro #thomasardavay #icjztv #IndieCreators #joyzone #longbeachfresh #tonydamico #farmfreshfood #foodaccess #equalityConnect with Suzanne Toro and Thomas Ardavany