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At Farmer Focus, we don’t just talk about building a better food system. We act on it. The Good Table Project was started to connect people that shape what food means in our society to have a candid conversation about where we are today and the work that still needs to be done.
Farmers are the backbone of the food system and the hard work they do every day should be celebrated. One of the ways we amplify the work that our farmers do is by providing a traceable product, something we’re very proud of. Two-thirds of shoppers want to know more about where their food comes from. One way we connect our farmers and consumers is with our Farm ID system: Each pack of Farmer Focus chicken has a Farm ID that can be entered on our website to meet our farmers, see photos from the farm, read a short story about that farmer, and customers can even leave them a note. We’ve received great feedback from both consumers and our growers about what this connection point means for them and wanted to find a way to do more, which started The Good Table Project.
We wanted to connect those that shape what food means in American to share a meaningful conversation. That’s why we called this The Good Table. I sat down with one of our growers, a farm to table chef, urban homesteader, home chef, and magazine editor to discuss the importance of traceability, sustainable family farming, and humane standards, and talk about the work that still needs to be done. It was a great opportunity to hear different perspectives and find commonalities we share. It was a wonderful conversation, and we wanted to share because when it comes to building a better future, we all have a seat at the table.
Our farming partner Jason Daugherty shared his experience raising chickens and working with Farmer Focus. He spoke about the importance of making farming financially sustainable: “There’s a difference between having a career and there’s a difference between having a lifestyle and a legacy.” Jason inherited the legacy of farming from his father, who started Pleasant Hill Poultry in 1969, and he hopes to be able to pass it to his daughter one day. Financial sustainability is a big part of that. Jason also shared the impact that being able to connect with consumers has on him: “When somebody comes to me and says thank you to me, it starts making things worth it.”
The group discussed the importance of knowing more about your food and where it comes from. Asia Spratley of Yellow Door Urban Homestead shared, “Your chicken comes from a farm and a farmer… yeah I got it from the grocery store, but someone raised this chicken.”
Knowing more about our food gives us insight into its quality and can help us feel better about what we are eating or feeding our family. We vote with our dollars with every purchase and can support brands that align with our values. When asked about our brand I truly believe: “Our brand is nothing without our farmers and our brand is nothing without our customers.”
Farmer Focus was started by a group of seven poultry farmers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia that wanted to create a better system, one that benefited the farmers and resulted in a high-quality product for consumers. Our unique business model puts decision-making back in the hands of the farmer. Unlike traditional contracts, our model empowers farmers by allowing them to own their flocks, eliminating farmer competition for compensation, and providing fair pay for their hard work. Farmers are such a vital part of our food system and today Farmer Focus works with over 120 family farmers in the Shenandoah Valley. Our mission of promoting and protecting generational family farming is at the center of everything we do.
The Good Table Project was a wonderful opportunity to connect all the different parts of our food system from those that raise chicken to those that cook and write about food. It’s a great reminder of the influence that food has on us and why it’s important to strive to make a better system. We’re proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far but know there is a lot of work left to do.
