Farm to School, Greater Vancouver (November 2012 to March 2013)
Greenchain Consulting explored models for incorporating local, sustainable food into district-wide procurement practices and their potential applicability to school districts in Greater Vancouver. We identified various models, including those successfully operating in other jurisdictions, then engaged in dialogue with several school districts to identify their challenges and opportunities for procuring local, sustainable, food through any of the potential models. The analysis and recommendations in the final report served as a key resource for moving healthy, local, sustainable food procurement forward in Greater Vancouver and the process showed key opportunities for implementation in school districts.
Cowichan Valley Climate Adaptation Plan (July to September 2013)
I audited and analyzed the current infrastructure for agricultural food production and storage to develop strategies that will enhance local processing and storage in the District, through pilot projects, investment, information, and technical support.
City of Vancouver Food Truck Selection Panel (March 2013 to May 2013)
Greenchain analyzed over 20 food truck business plans to help select the most robust and viable ones to win food truck licenses within the City of Vancouver. Supported the mayor in announcing the winners at a media event.
http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/street-food-vending.aspx
Foodtree (October 2010 to October 2013)
Foodtree is the source for food and beverage information that goes beyond the label. My role as an advisor was to help connect Foodtree to key people within the food industry, support and advise them on business development, and as an additional resource on industry trends.
Cookies of Course (January 2014 to March 2014)
Greenchain developed a business strategy to refocus the direction of Cookies of Course‘s business from a brick-and-mortar business to an online and community-focused business.
Epicure Selections (September 2013 to January 2014)
Greenchain provided procurement resources and advice to source key Non-GMO ingredients for their dried seasonings, as Epicure Selections strived to have all of their products verified Non-GMO.
EarthBites (June 2015 to September 2015)
Greenchain Consulting identified and developed an enterprise strategy for EarthBites to help them generate their own income to support their school programs. Work included the research, development, and measurement of viable enterprise strategies and budgets, and an overall revised strategy for EarthBites, which helped the launch of one enterprise (cooking classes for adults).
The Sharing Farm (October 2014 to December 2014)
The Sharing Farm facilitated the exploration of collaborative frameworks between The Sharing Farm, Richmond Food Security, and Richmond Schoolyard Project to help the three organizations deliver their objectives more efficiently and effectively.
Pot Luck Café Society and Kitchen Tables Project (August 2012 to September 2014)
Greenchain Consulting designed and implemented a Collective Food Procurement Mechanism which leverages the collective purchasing power of both large and small DTES Food Providers.
Metro Vancouver Food Waste Recovery Program (December 2012 to July 2013)
Greenchain Consulting, in collaboration with Erin Nichols at Farm Folk City Folk, prepared a feasibility study and business plan for a food recovery program which recovers unwanted, but edible, food from retailers and distributors and then uses the food to make frozen ready meals, soups, and food baskets for low income families. The objective was to roll out the business model throughout Metro Vancouver to divert 1% of the organic waste away from landfill.
Coquitlam Farmers’ Market (February 2013 to March 2013)
Greenchain analyzed the performance of the Coquitlam Farmers’ Market pocket markets and made recommendations on additional revenue channels and cost savings.
Abbotsford Farm and Country Market (January 2012 to March 2012)
Greenchain Consulting, in collaboration with Sustainability Ventures, prepared business strategies/implementation plans for three business opportunities, with the primary objective of enabling the market to improve its revenues and general financial performance.
Victoria Downtown Public Market (December 2011 to September 2012)
The Victoria Downtown Public Market opened in April 2013 with 15 permanent vendors, over 10 temporary vendors, and a farmers’ market. It has projected annual revenues between $3 and $5 million. Greenchain, in collaboration with David Van Seters and Janine de la Salle at HB Lanarc, assessed the scope, size, location, and operational details of the proposed market and prepared a preliminary business plan, 5 year proforma, and policy document.
http://victoriapublicmarket.com/
http://www.straight.com/life/643711/new-victoria-public-market-hudson-livens-downtown-food-scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUA0EnJIIgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uGvq74J8i0s
Township of Langley Food Hub Feasibility Study (December 2014 to September 2015)
Greenchain Consulting identified the idea and feasibility of a food hub for the agricultural community of the Township of Langley, the 3rd largest agricultural community in BC.
http://www.tol.ca/Current-News-Initiatives/Initiatives/Food-Hub
Rural Agri-food Distribution Hub Model (Fall 2013 to February 2014)
Greenchain Consulting partnered with Erin Nichols at Farm Folk City Folk to develop a model for farmers to aggregate their products and distribute it to wholesale buyers together. The first phase was to survey local farmers and research similar models to identify demand and needs as well as best practices. The model was then presented to dozens of farmers and wholesale businesses around BC to gather feedback and interest.
Victoria Community Food Hub (Fall 2013 to January 2014)
Greenchain Consulting worked alongside Found Solutions to develop a community food hub for Victoria. The food hub will support local farmers and food banks to distribute their products more efficiently throughout the region as well as providing office space and commercial kitchen space for food processors and advocates. The first stage was to develop a business plan and feasibility study.
http://www.iccbc.ca/funding/victoria-community-food-hub-society
North Fraser Food Hub (August 2012 to January 2015)
Greenchain Consulting, in collaboration with Janine de la Salle at HB Lanarc, worked with the Pitt Meadows Economic Development office to develop a distribution food hub for the farmers in the North Fraser region. In August of 2012, we organized and facilitated a visioning session between North Fraser growers, producers, and distributors to identify the needs, opportunities, and challenges of this hub to help support and grow local food production and sales. In Summer of 2013, we did a pre-feasibility study of a food hub for the region, including surveying 17 farmers and 17 restaurants to identify the demand and needs of a food hub.
New City Market, Vancouver (March 2011 – September 2013)
New City Market (NCM) is the food hub concept developed by Vancouver Farmers’ Market in partnership with Vancity. NCM’s concept is to provide a year-round indoor farmers’ & chefs’ market, commercial kitchen, and local food aggregation and distribution support. In Spring 2011, Greenchain led the research and writing of the Preliminary Business Plan and, over 2011 and 2012, presented the plan to over 400 people within the industry to gather feedback and further develop the business model. Greenchain built partnerships with other businesses and organizations to submit a joint proposal to the City of Vancouver.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/11/04/LocalFoodCrownJewel/
http://www.bcbusiness.ca/manufacturing-transport/the-farm-to-table-opportunity?page=2
Oxfam Vancouver Fair Trade Group (Nov 2003 to 2006), Events Co-Ordinator
Oxfam Vancouver Fair Trade Group, Events Co-Ordinator