Job Announcement

Community Supported Agriculture Coordinator

Description

The Richmond Children’s Foundation is developing a community supported agriculture program in partnership with the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust, and the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors.  The goal of the CSA is to bring fresh, healthy, local produce to urban Richmond and work to build a local food system in Contra Costa County.  The CSA will source fruits and vegetable from local farmers and deliver them to families in the Nystrom neighborhood.  We anticipate that the produce from East Contra Costa County and surrounding agricultural areas will be delivered to a central location in Richmond.  The CSA boxes will be assembled and delivered in Richmond.  The CSA Coordinator will be responsible managing the ordering of produce, packing of the CSA boxes and marketing the CSA to the community. The Community Supported Agriculture Coordinator will report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Richmond Children’s Foundation, and be responsible for establishing a CSA in the Nystrom neighborhood of Richmond.

Skills and Abilities

The CSA Coordinator will have experience building local food systems and developing CSA’s in diverse communities, including knowledge of the principles and practices of CSA’s. Knowledge of the Nystrom area and local community services and resources is important.  The ability to build effective relationships within the community and to build links between the Nystrom community and the farming community in East Contra Costa County is critical to the success of the project.  The CSA Coordinator must be able to communicate effectively with community residents of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

Qualifications

•           Two to three years plus experience with urban agriculture, farming, food security and/or food policy issues.

•           Ability to create and implement budgets, ordering schedules, work schedules and business plans for a CSA.

•           An understanding of local food sourcing, including seasonality and availability of local produce in Contra Costa County and the surrounding food shed.

•           Previous experience in creating successful CSA’s in other communities.

•           An understanding of the health issues related to access to fresh, quality produce including anemia and obesity.

Typical Tasks

•           Work with the community to build sign up families for the CSA.

•           Attend community meetings, parent meetings and other community events to promote the CSA.

•           Develop work plans and budgets necessary to implement the CSA.

•           Work with local farmers and produce distributors to order fruits and vegetables to create diverse, healthy, seasonal CSA boxes - with a priority given to purchasing produce from Richmond and Contra Costa farmers.

•           Draft a weekly newsletter and promotional materials for the CSA.

•           Work with County public health and other health advocacy organization to build a nutritional education program to support the CSA.

•           Develop tools for evaluation of the CSA.

•           Work with Richmond Children’s Foundation, BALT and other community organization to develop a sustainable business plan for the CSA.

•           Participate in professional development activities related to food security, local agriculture, nutrition, food policy and other issues.

•           Participate in the Richmond Children’s Foundation’s Nutrition Advisory Committee.

This is a part-time contract position (15 hours per week).  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and professional references to:  CSA Hiring Committee, c/o Richmond Children’s Foundation, 125 Park Place, Suite 230, Richmond, CA 94801.  Position will remain open until filled.