Heartland Communities Inc

Resettled Refugees in Northeast Indiana Who Have a Farming Background Face Barriers to Success at Every Step Toward Their Vocation of Choice. Language, Regulations, Financial System, Permitting, Resources, Growing Climate, Seasonal Production Parameters, and Markets Are Just a Few Complex Systems to Navigate Toward Applying the Farm Skills They Have Developed. Sixteen Burmese Refugee Farmers Have a Path Through the Complex Barriers With the Refugee Incubator Farm Project, With Instruction and Interpretive Services That Are Respectful to Cultural Needs, Sensitive to Trauma in Personal Histories on Their Way to Living Their Dream Life as Vegetable Farmers. Purpose: to Increase Success With Additional Supports in Completing a Robust, Processing and Marketing Situation. Outcome: Viable Farms Supported by a Wrap-around Service From Post-harvest to Direct-sale Through Membership in a Cooperative. This Project Will Provide Opportunities for Incubator Participants to: 1. Fulfill Untapped Market Demand With Culturally Appropriate Fresh Produce; 2. Expand Capacity With Value-added Products to Create New Revenue Streams and Reduce Food Waste; 3. Fully Staff Mobile Markets to Bring Farm Products Into Diverse Low-income Neighborhoods; 4. Provide Guidance and Interpretive Services for Non-english Speakers to Negotiate Farm Market Application Process; 5. Subsidize Refugee Incubator Farm Participants to Receive Services Provided by Cooperative Food Hub Distribution Such as Bookkeeping, Sales, and Online Presence; 6. Increase Capacity of Online Sales Platform (open Food Network Usa) to Provide Internet Sales for Farmers, and Subscribe the Cooperative to the Platform at the Broadest Level for Dozens of Producer Shopfronts.