I posted a query on the above title yesterday and have already received
half a dozen interesting replies. It is obvious from the replies that I
jumped on the chain in terms of the topic than needed. The first level
of interest from the producer point of view is some sort of processing of
what is produced in the direct marketing network. Already at that level-
unless there is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network,
government regulations on processsing kick in. Meeting the goal of such
regulations would be essential even in a CSA situation.
The next level is FOVA- farm owned value added. At this point I suppose
that the HRM (Holistic Resource Management) process of goal settng
becomes crucial since from here to LOVA, commitments to value added could
pull a producer away from the actual production if the three fold goals
advocated by HRM are not the clear "reasons for existence" of the
operation. If the producer wants to get into processing totally that
would be fine and dandy but if he/she wants to remain a "Producer"
fundamentally then the trade offs of production/ processing time and
energy must be managed with care.
Finally at the third level we have LOVA which attempts to fit the
production consumption chain together at a local (specified) level and
the distinctions of production/ processing become more or less arbitrary
since the local connection is what is crucial. Community Economic
Development, local leadership development with a shared common vision
become important educational program processes. By the way we do have an
educational program here at A&T called "Community Voices" which build
those skills locally.
As you can see a total planned educational extension program can emerge
in those concepts, a program which could clearly fit into the new
directions called for by GPRA type accountability.
****************************************
Name: John M. O'Sullivan
Title: Farm Management & Marketing Specialist
email: osullivj@rhema
internet: osullivj@rhema.ncat.edu
Phone: (910) 334-7957
Fax: (910) 334-7207
****************************************