Nature’s Finest Fund! Start Applying!
Posted: September 11, 2017
Categories: GoodFoodBites / Opportunities
The Big Carrot has been running the Nature’s Finest Fund for over thirty years. Are you a registered farm business? Interested in applying for grants to improve on-farm animal welfare or increase transparency and traceability? This annual grant program to expand the availability of locally produced food and to support and strengthen working relationships between local family farms and The Big Carrot. Read below to see how your project could receive funding from the Nature’s Finest Fund! Details on the fund, application process and dates to apply are below! This information has been taken directly from their website.
For over thirty years The Big Carrot has been searching for Nature’s Finest to provide our shoppers with delicious, nourishing and sustainable food. In celebration of this commitment The Big Carrot created the Nature’s Finest Fund. This annual grant program expands the availability of locally produced food and supports and strengthens the working relationships between local family farms and The Big Carrot.
As founding members of Carrot Cache (a small foundation that funds local organic food initiatives), we have seen the transformative power of investing in our regional food economy. Inspired by this success, we want to provide a similar opportunity for our own producers.
To date, 16 grants have been awarded to local farms and businesses increasing our supply of local beans, pastured chicken, organic vegetables, chaga products, kombucha and greens. The grants lent support to some long-standing producers as well as bringing new farmers into our community.
This year The Big Carrot is committing $15,000 for new grants to eligible Ontario Producers. We are especially interested this year, in projects that improve on-farm animal welfare or increase transparency and traceability. Click here for more details.
Mission
- To invest in our community of local sustainable food producers
- To expand the availability of locally produced Organic food
- To strengthen the working relationships between family farms and The Big Carrot
Criteria for Eligibility
- Meet The Big Carrot’s Quality Standards
- Products marketed as Organic must have a current Organic Certificate
- Be a registered farm business
- Funds are to be used for capital expansion (i.e. investments in new equipment, greenhouse extension, perennial crops, breeding stock, etc), not for operating expenses.
- Interest in becoming a Big Carrot supplier.
Desired Attributes of Applicants
- Be an existing vendor to The Big Carrot in good standing
- Be an Ontario producer of high quality food
- Be a business that is ready to expand (not a new venture)
- Share our values of an Organic and non-GMO food system
Appropriate Projects Might Be:
- Row covers, low-tunnels, high-tunnels and greenhouses that can extend fresh production seasons
- Purchase of Quota for managed products so our customers can obtain foods they feel comfortable using
- Harvesting equipment, washing facilities and packing equipment for reduced labour and more effective post-harvest practices
- Energy efficient Refrigeration and Storage facilities that will lengthen shelf-life to extend seasonal availability
- Market Research to identify customer values so that packaging, labels, and website become more effective marketing tools
- Laboratory testing to provide nutrient content and best-before-dating on labels for additional customer assurance
- Training and equipment for effective fencing, composting, compost tea, biological pest controls, and green manuring that will contribute to improved quality and reliability
- Soil testing and application equipment that will improve soil fertility for higher yields, improved flavour, and reduced susceptibility to disease
- Irrigation equipment and water sourcing that will extend the ability to adequately irrigate with reduced effort and water usage
- Transportation and administrative systems to more reliably and regularly deliver products to The Big Carrot
- Processes that contribute to food safety with recommended cull and manure handling, water monitoring and treatment, animal welfare, traceability, and installation of more cleanable equipment
Application Process:
- Submit a completed NFF Application by December 11, 2017.
- Completed NFF Applications to be reviewed by The Big Carrot Nature’s Finest Fund Committee.
- Recipients will be announced by January 27, 2018.