February 2012

Former Wall Street Executive Trying to "Close the Loop" on Sustainable Farming
Jeff Gangemi Feb 29, 2012 Bakery 0 comments
Like his friend Dean Carlson, who we recently profiled, Jon McConaughy has over a decade of experience in the finance industry. Also like Carlson, McConaughy says his business experience developed his decision-making ability, particularly when working with limited information. While running Double Brook Farm in Hopewell, New Jersey, McConaughy says he finds himself making loads of decisions on a daily basis. “As a farmer, you spend much of your day trying to work through problems, trying to make it better and more efficient, and that’s very similar to finance,” he says. But his biggest and most critical decision? To jump into farming with the same zeal and ambition with which he approached...
Drive Your Tractor to School? Not In One Pennsylvania Town
Jeff Gangemi Feb 28, 2012 agriculture 0 comments
For the past several years, the celebration for National Future Farmers of America Week has included an event designed to show solidarity for our country’s farmers. It’s called “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” and is about as self-explanatory an event as they come. Students who work on family farms have been encouraged to drive their tractors to school for a day of lighthearted celebration of today's modern agricultural community. But, at least in one Pennsylvania town, that tradition will come to an end on Wednesday, according to a story in The Herald Mail. Nearly ten years on, it seems that local law enforcement realized that driving tractors on certain roads is illegal. It’s not so...
Breaking the Disconnect Between Production and Plate
Bryn Mooth Feb 23, 2012 Bryn Mooth 0 comments
Recalling a way-off-Broadway play called “The Rescue” that he’d seen years ago, Andrew Kimbrell (executive director of The Center for Food Safety) talked about the dilemma faced by the play’s main character: A bomber pilot, he had no difficulty dropping ammunition from many thousands of feet above, and yet he couldn’t pull the trigger when forced to shoot someone in front of him. During his presentation at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association’s annual conference, Kimbrell likened the pilot’s dilemma to the physical and psychological disconnect that’s inherent in the industrial food system. Because we’re so far removed from CAFOs and from the monoculture farms that produce the...
Is the United States Turning Into Europe?
Jeff Gangemi Feb 22, 2012 cities 0 comments
An interesting blog post from Derek Singleton at Software Advice provides a clear argument of why the U.S. might be headed for a more “European” food distribution system.  In Europe, gas prices are significantly higher than in North America. Among other factors, that cost encourages a hub-like decentralized food distribution process, centered around cities.  In the U.S., gas prices continue to rise, and coupled with spread of farmers’ markets and demand for fresh food, the sustainable food movement is bucking the prevailing economic indicators. Singleton gives a great example in Whole Foods Market, which has posted impressive gains in profitability in the past four years...
Former Bond Trader Brings Business Acumen To Sustainable Farming
Jeff Gangemi Feb 20, 2012 second act 0 comments
Like many bright young college graduates, Dean Carlson gravitated toward a career in finance. He spent 15 years as a successful bond trader for Philadelphia-based Susquehanna International Group but eventually decided to pursue an interest in farming.  And so, in 2009, Carlson left his firm and the comfort of the familiar. “I was just going to take some time off,” he says. “I had no real exposure to agriculture, but I’d been thinking of buying a farm for an investment.”  Carlson traveled to Iowa, where he anticipated growing corn and soybeans. But in the process of conducting research on the agricultural system, the Pennsylvania native began reading up on sustainable farming...
Sustainable Baby Food Delivery Coming to New York City
Jeff Gangemi Feb 17, 2012 baby food 0 comments
As those who have lived in The Big Apple know, you can get just about anything delivered right to your door. Soon, that ever-growing proliferation of convenience will include local, sustainable baby food. That’s thanks to a new company called Farm to Baby, which will soon offer a subscription-based service in Brooklyn and Manhattan. As far as we know, the menu will not include pureed pizza. A recent interview on PSFK.com with co-founder Lauren Utvich explores the genesis of the company and its plans for launch. Read on for more. “Eating locally has restored the link between the farm and the table, an ideal pioneered by Chef Alice Waters at her Berkeley, California restaurant, Chez Panisse...
FarmPlate Announces Partnership with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York
Jeff Gangemi Feb 15, 2012 discount 0 comments
We are pleased to announce a brand new partnership with NOFA-NY! NOFA-NY, the oldest and largest organization in New York devoted to organic and sustainable farming and gardening, and FarmPlate.com, the largest community of sustainable food businesses on the Web, have partnered to make both online marketing and trade networking even more convenient and affordable. As a new membership benefit, NOFA-NY business members are eligible for a discount on one year of FarmPlate.com’s online marketing service. Conversely, FarmPlate.com customers from New York state are eligible for a discounted membership to NOFA-NY, which includes a number of great member benefits (click here to learn more...
FarmPlate Featured in Fast Company
Jeff Gangemi Feb 15, 2012 Co.Exist 0 comments
On Tuesday, February 14, we at FarmPlate were pleased to see a great piece about our company on Fast Company's Co.Exist page. It's called "FarmPlate: A Yelp for Local Food and Local Farmers." Written by David Holmes, we think the piece does a great job of explaining both our goals and our value proposition to real food businesses. Here is an excerpt. Please click on the link below to read the rest of the article. And don't forget to Tweet it, recommend it on Facebook, or share it in any way your prefer. Thanks, Fast Company! "The sustainable and local food movements have no shortage of devotees. But awareness doesn’t always lead to action. And despite the growth of these movements, it...
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Conference - Thanks for the Inspiration!
Jeff Gangemi Feb 14, 2012 350.org 0 comments
On the weekend of February 10-12, we at FarmPlate.com were lucky to be a part of the exhibitor fair at the 30th Annual NOFA-VT conference at the University of Vermont in Burlington. This year’s theme was "Ecological & Community Resilience: Building an Enduring and Adaptable Food System." The conference had between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees, including presenters of all stripes – farmers and farm advocates, activist groups like 350.org, seed companies like High Mowing Seeds, compost sellers, the USDA, and many others. My colleague, Kaitlin, and I staffed the FarmPlate table at the exhibitor fair on Saturday and Sunday. Our neighbors at the event were great people – Stuart and Margaret...
Bankers and Small Farmers Find Common Ground - Growing Local Economies
Jeff Gangemi Feb 09, 2012 Farm Bill 0 comments
According to a great feature story by Patty Cantrell on sustainableagriculture.net, there is a “growing group of activist lenders and small farm business advisers,” who are defying convention by supporting businesses - and sometimes business models - that look unproven and unfamiliar to more traditional lenders.  And they’re not in it for philanthropy. If more lenders don’t become versed on farms and farm lending, then the sector’s economic and production potential may remain unrealized. That’s bad for business and bad for banks. Last year, a study conducted by the Opportunity Finance Network found at least as much need for capacity-building among lenders as there was among farmers,...