Fresh Farm CT Food Business Incubator
2023 is the right time to develop new opportunity for independent contractor employment, food security and economic development in Greater New West Haven, Connecticut by increasing creating Food Recovery and Food Business Incubation resources,
Dream Team Foods will reduce quality food waste while increasing availability of healthy food choices for people who live in USDA Food Deserts by packaging food that is easy for any person to prepare and store with refrigeration. Poor eating and health problems can be caused be lack of access to healthy resources or cooking ability.
According to the USDA Food Research Access Atlas, Greater West Haven Connecticut is a good place for a Fresh Food Recovery and Food Business Incubation because we have nine identified areas with food access indicators impacting low-income households (using accepted measures of supermarket accessibility) with 15 miles that can benifit from an improved Food Security Network supported by public transportation and access to Metro North.
Dream Team Foods will train an independent contractor #foodrecoverytechnician who will identify, grade and process institutional food of good quality for cooking and consumption. The harvest will effectively create a #foodrecoveryfarm which will increase food security for people living in the Greater New Haven, Connecticut #dreamteamfoods #foodsecuritynetwork.
The Fresh Farm CT Food Recovery 3 year basic key cost startup estimate of includes $320,000 to finance a three-year triple net lease guarantee ($110k), plus heat/elec ($60k), packaging and storage equipment ($50k), office expense/license/insurance ($50k) and Transportation (lease or contracted) ($50k).
Minimal Annual Staffing costs could be $191,000 for 4 Part Time Food Recovery Contractors (4000hrs@$24=$96k) and the project management ($70k). As we start off, mainatainence of the location with the equipment is most important. More demand can increase the need for, and the ability to pay more independent contractors. This bare bones compensation estimate uses independent contractors instead of employees to reduce startup staffing costs and will include a 15% adjustment ($25k) to cover self employment tax
Income will be based on the revenue from the food sold. Customers will be able to use SNAP credits, debit and credit to buy food which will be picked up or delivered by the customer, independent contractor.
Having access to other patron support will allow the Fresh Farm CT Food Recovery team to provide more food for less consumer cost. With less external support the consumer food cost would increase. Generally accepted accounting principles will produce transparent quarterly public reports. Income generated will be used to repay grants to the funding entities.
The Fresh Farm CT Food Recovery will address unmet food justice rights for people enduring lack of food security while reducing food waste in our supply chain. The proposed team of Food Recovery Technicians and transportation contractors will harvest from an institutional supply stream, capable of providing good quality product by employing professional standards for food harvesting. We will expand access to bulk and easy to prepare, healthy food for people experiencing food insecurity, effectively creating a #FoodSecurityNetwork.
©Food Recovery Farm, ©Food Security Network, ©Food Recovery Technician 2022
+++++++++++++ Fresh Farm Direct++++++++++++
Project proposes to increase availability of healthy food choices for people who live in FIP Food Deserts by manufacturing and delivering locally produced, easy to reheat healthy food . We will purchase raw materials from local, regional and national Farmers/producers and distributers depending on availability and price since CT. is a seasonal farming location. Different wholesale vendors will create different consumer costs, a key issue in the local versus factory farming issue.
We will offer food choices to the consumer in a unique finished, value-added form. We will produce food that is easy for any person, regardless of personal ability to prepare and store. Unhealthy eating can be caused be lack of access, convenience and cooking disability. We propose to produce popular menu items in a ready to reheat package.
We propose to offer this process to those most in need of an efficient and labor simple method of preparing quality food for frozen and or refrigerated storage. This service method uses minimal energy and allows the product to be stored in a refrigerator or ice chest (if necessary in emergency situations). Any person with the most basic skills will be able to use Fresh Farm CT. The product will last in the freezer up to 6 months, and can be stored in the refrigerator after thawing 3-7-days
By using particular methods of food preservation, we will have the ability to reduce added fats, salts and sugars, making the product healthy and attractive.
We will have the ability offer specialized menu items as demanded for people with food allergies and medically required ingredient/calorie restriction.
We will increase the distribution of healthy food products we produce by identifying existing retail outlets in food deserts,
We will connect people to established healthy food outlets and community education connection.
The following is an example of the diversity and quality of menu we can provide. We may adjust the menu as desired by consumers and Grant Provider
BBQ Chicken, Maple Glazed Chicken Apricot Glazed Chicken, Rosemary Garlic Chicken Chicken Cacciatore , Lemon Dill Chicken, Honey Roasted Chicken Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya Chicken Piccata, Sweet &Sour Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, Lemon Oregano Chicken Szechwan Chicken, Mango Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, Kung Pao Chicken, Roasted Chicken Lasagna, Italian Roasted Chicken, Chicken Marsala, Oven Roasted Chicken with Tomatoes, Lasagna (Meat/Vegan/Chicken/Pork) Manicotti, Ravioli, Spaghetti Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Beef Jambalaya, Beef Burgers, Lime Cilantro Beef Fajitas, Italian Meatloaf, Beef Lasagna, Beef Tamale Pie, Salisbury Steak, Pot Roast, Beef BBQ, Beef Stroganoff, Baked Swedish Meatballs, Pepper Beef Goulash, Turkey Gumbo, Turkey Divan, Roast Turkey Dinner, Turkey Burgers, BBQ Pork Ribs, Jerk Pork and Rice, Scalloped Ham &Potatoes, Boneless Pork Chop. Bone In Pork Chop, Stuffed Pork Chop, Pork Tenderloin, Tenderloin Medallions, Poached Salmon, Cajun Cod, Flash Frozen Full line seafood filets and steaks, Vegan Penne Marinara, , Sautéed Broccoli, Zucchini Feta Casserole, Sautéed Green Beans, Vegan Penne Puttanesca, Steamed Vegetables, Tuscan White Beans, Rosemary Potatoes Cheese Tortellini with Basil Pesto, Seitan Stir Fry with Vegetables, Black Beans, Southwest Mac and Cheese, Pinto Beans, Brown Rice, Pesto Pasta with Seasonal Vegetables, Vegan Lasagna, Green Curry Roasted Vegetables, Vegan Penne Marinara. Carrots in Maple sauce, Carrots/Beans/Peas, Brussel Sprouts/Corn with infused Olive Oil Glaze, Roasted Peppers
Additional annual costs beyond the 3 year $370,000 basic key cost startup projection will include production, packaging, labeling, licensing, insurance and point of sale equipment.
+++++++++Food Business Incubator+++++++++++++
Dream Team Foods Business Incubator will provide a production and marketing platform. supporting sustainable business development, food justice, food security, economic opportunity and a healthy, fun place to improve the future.
Dream Team Foods will provide incubation for downstream employment by helping qualified entrepreneurs a) develop profitable business models, b) provide an operational platform (production, storage, distribution, marketing) for early-stage food businesses, promote Connecticut Grown products. Entrepreneurs will be qualified after obtaining appropriate training and certification.
We will provide commercial kitchens with dry and cold and storage at below-market rates with annual membership, daily use, and storage fees. We will provide a cost-effective resource for cold shipping, receiving, labeling and packaging. We will not duplicate services that may be obtained by other mentoring organizations, and actively seek to develop professional apprentice / internships with existing foods service professionals.
Commercial Food Business incubation has been endorsed in Connecticut for years to support knowledgeable persons who have a business with UPC ready product.
Additional costs include access to commercial kitchen equipment, increased utility costs labeling, packaging, freezers and refrigeration. All estimates are subject to review, based on market prices at time of launch
(C)Copyright 2019-2022 All Rights Reserved Dream Team Foods LLC
Additional Resources
SEWRPC Regional Food System Plan