Module 1: Introduction to Value-Added Production

Groundwork to Grow is a collection of 4-week workshops offered by Hoʻōla Farms on various agriculture topics, offering exposure to community resources, local experts and experienced farmers. This course covers an introduction to Value-Added Products.

Future Groundwork to Grow Courses:

• Value-Add Products
• Beekeeping – April 2022!
• Greenhouses
• Agroforestry
• Orchards

For the first class we will review the course and meet the participants, as we will be working as a cohort through the entire process of growing, processing, packaging, labeling and selling value-added products.

Schedule:

• Tuesdays: Virtual Meeting – 5:30-7:00pm
  • 2/1, 2/8, 2/15. 2/22
• Saturdays: Field Day – 8:00am-12:00pm
  • 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

What is a Value-Added Product?

• USDA Definition:
  • A change in the physical state or form of the product (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam).
  • The production of a product in a manner that enhances its value.

What is “value?” 

Adding Value Guide, by Craig Elevitch and Ken Love

• Free pdf download on GoFarmHawaii.org
• Contains a great overview of Hawai’i value-added products, including example farms and businesses, and an exhaustive list of resources in the back!

Value Chain: The activities in the creation and delivery of a product (good/service) that add value for the end-consumer.

Supply Chain: All of the activities needed to create a product and deliver to the customer. Each stage of the chain is an opportunity to add value to your product. 

Here are the steps of the value supply chain of an agriculture product:

• Farming
  • Anything you can grow, the first and greatest source of value.
• Raw Materials (Procurement)
  • Any additional ingredients and supplies you need for your finished product.
• Harvesting
  • You can add value to produce with different harvesting methods, for example microgreens, fingerling potatoes, red bell peppers.
• Processing and Production
  • The preparation of your ingredients into the finished product.
• Packaging
  • How you store and label your final product
• Marketing and Branding
  • Your name, logo, and how you present your product to the public
• Wholesale Sales
  • Are you selling to other businesses, like grocery stores?
• Retail Sales
  • Selling direct to the consumer via farmers market, or website
• Inventory and Fulfillment
  • Where is your inventory stored, how are you transporting it to the customer

A .pdf of this module can be found here

A .docx of this module can be downloaded here