Farmer Survey

In 2007, LFTN partnered with the Agricultural Justice Project, two Minnesota food co-ops and four farms in a Local Fair Trade label pilot project. The following survey will provide us with additional information that will help us shape this program as it is expanded in 2008. Our goal is to be more than another labeling scheme, but a cooperative effort that will greatly expand the sales of local food in the Upper Midwest and improve the financial situation of the farmers and farm workers that grow that food.

1. Could you estimate your yearly or hourly wage?:

2. Do you have an off-farm job?:

3. Do you have health insurance?:

4. Is it through your spouse/partner’s work or an off-farm job?:

5. Do you have crop insurance?:

6. Do you have a succession plan?:

7. Where do you market your products?:

8. If you sell to grocery stores or retailers, do you have contracts with them?:

9. Do you have difficulty setting prices for your product?:

10. Are you aware of what other farmers in your area are charging for the same products that you produce?:

11. Do you charge different buyers different prices for your products? Who pays the best prices?:

12. Would you be able to reach a “living wage” by boosting the volume of product you sell?:

13. Do you think that you are receiving a fair price for the food you produce? How do you determine that?:

14. What would help you reach a sustainable income level for your farm?:

15. Do you have adequate marketing materials for your needs? What are they?:

16. What certification programs are you a part of? What do you think of them?:

17. Do you have employees? Interns?:

18. How do you find your employees?:

19. Do you have written employee policies and contracts?:

20. Do you have difficulty finding and retaining quality workers?:

21. What other difficulties or concerns do you have with your labor situation?:

Name/Farm (Optional):

Email (Optional):

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Farmer Survey