Projects...
Park and Spruce Resources has provided consulting services to a variety of governmental agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and public policy decisionmakers. Two recent examples of the consultancy's work follow.
Local and Organic: Bringing Maryland Organics from Farm to Table
Many Maryland consumers want to buy locally-grown organic food, according to a survey by the Chesapeake Fields Institute (CFI). They're even willing to pay a premium price to get it. But few retail outlets make these food products easy to find. This project was funded by the USDA Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program and the Maryland Department of Agriculture. It develops a comprehensive understanding of the Maryland-grown organic food market and uncovers innovative ways to strengthen the bonds between Maryland’s organic farmers and the people who want to buy the fruits (as well as the vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, grain and poultry) of their labor.
Organic Supply and Market Analysis in the Four Corners
Colorado State University and the Southwest Marketing Network, with funding from Western SARE, partnered to survey
all the certified organic growers in the Four Corners States and report the findings.
The project had the following three objectives:
- To better understand current and potential future regional organic markets through a comprehensive market supply analysis.
- To identify specific market opportunities for organic and "organic-interested" producers in the Four Corners States and develop solutions to overcome barriers that exist in their markets.
- To communicate findings to organic and organic-interested producers, and to extension agents, industry members, and non-profit organizations.