Okay guys, put your thinking caps on. I may have found a commercial
- Thread starter dawn_mo
- Start date
They could use that land for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) where people subscribe
to a weekly or monthly box of organic produce. There are hoops to jump through for organic certification, but they could explain that the certification is pending and they are following organic techniques.
I remember years ago reading about a counselor in a prison in Oakland, CA, who decided to clear a vacant lot and let the low-risk prisoners farm it. Before long Alice Waters was buying their organic produce.
Labor is the most expensive ingredient, so if it is part of a recovery or rehabilitation campaign, it's free! (as long as it's voluntary.)
A community garden is also a great idea but you can't sell the produce, only rent the plots and perhaps get surplus produce donated back to the shelter.
to a weekly or monthly box of organic produce. There are hoops to jump through for organic certification, but they could explain that the certification is pending and they are following organic techniques.
I remember years ago reading about a counselor in a prison in Oakland, CA, who decided to clear a vacant lot and let the low-risk prisoners farm it. Before long Alice Waters was buying their organic produce.
Labor is the most expensive ingredient, so if it is part of a recovery or rehabilitation campaign, it's free! (as long as it's voluntary.)
A community garden is also a great idea but you can't sell the produce, only rent the plots and perhaps get surplus produce donated back to the shelter.
Here is a local program called Seed to Plate - a restaurant group works with local
Special Education students - the students grow the produce and the restaurant buys it and features it on their menu.
http://www.chezmelange.com/eat/seed-to-plate
Another idea is similar to what Homeboy Industries does - they sell a line of jams, condiments, dressings, etc.
They also have a bakery and cafe:
http://www.homeboy-industries.org/homeboy-bakery.php
Special Education students - the students grow the produce and the restaurant buys it and features it on their menu.
http://www.chezmelange.com/eat/seed-to-plate
Another idea is similar to what Homeboy Industries does - they sell a line of jams, condiments, dressings, etc.
They also have a bakery and cafe:
http://www.homeboy-industries.org/homeboy-bakery.php
dawn_mo
Well-known member
Here is my formulating plan. (long and winding wrote)
I want to start a lunch delivery business. It will be from Tues-Fri. I will prep the food the day before starting on Monday morning after breakfast. The men only have cold breakfast and hot dinner everyday. So the kitchen is available until about 4pm.
I am going to do a taste testing with the newspaper asking which items they like the best. I will do it a few times with like items. I have a friend there and it will be advertising and getting a feel for what St. Joe likes. My experience with the teachers has taught me that St. Josephines, have varied tastes. If I told them I was serving a curried chicken-grape salad, some would turn up their noses, but after tasting it, most really like it, they just thought they didn't.
I will have a simple menu with just a few daily items in the beginning.
I will have a hot item like creamy chicken enchiladas, a soup like tortilla chicken soup, a salad like a tuna pasta salad and dessert. This is where the shelter will come in. They will prepare the dessert, like jumbo chocolate chip cookes, brownies, quick breads, whatever they would like. They will all be pre-packaged and sold cold, ready to nuke if needed.
I will donate 5% of my net profit and they will get 100% of their dessert profit. All they have to do is make it and package it, and I will advertise it, sell it and deliver it. That is my loose plan. I am going to go on Monday and meet with them and tell them what I would like to do.
I will put out fliers at the government buildings and larger companies downtown.
I will need to make a webpage for ordering the day before and make a blogpage.
I am looking into packaging options and costs.
I have the health department taken care of so I know what I can and cannot do.
I just have to start narrowing in on the ways and means.
I will probably edit this message, but I am going to go make dinner for the crew and sip on a martini while doing so. My brain is on overload, but I just have this feeling. I think I may have found my niche here. Thanks to all of you for your ideas and support!
I want to start a lunch delivery business. It will be from Tues-Fri. I will prep the food the day before starting on Monday morning after breakfast. The men only have cold breakfast and hot dinner everyday. So the kitchen is available until about 4pm.
I am going to do a taste testing with the newspaper asking which items they like the best. I will do it a few times with like items. I have a friend there and it will be advertising and getting a feel for what St. Joe likes. My experience with the teachers has taught me that St. Josephines, have varied tastes. If I told them I was serving a curried chicken-grape salad, some would turn up their noses, but after tasting it, most really like it, they just thought they didn't.
I will have a simple menu with just a few daily items in the beginning.
I will have a hot item like creamy chicken enchiladas, a soup like tortilla chicken soup, a salad like a tuna pasta salad and dessert. This is where the shelter will come in. They will prepare the dessert, like jumbo chocolate chip cookes, brownies, quick breads, whatever they would like. They will all be pre-packaged and sold cold, ready to nuke if needed.
I will donate 5% of my net profit and they will get 100% of their dessert profit. All they have to do is make it and package it, and I will advertise it, sell it and deliver it. That is my loose plan. I am going to go on Monday and meet with them and tell them what I would like to do.
I will put out fliers at the government buildings and larger companies downtown.
I will need to make a webpage for ordering the day before and make a blogpage.
I am looking into packaging options and costs.
I have the health department taken care of so I know what I can and cannot do.
I just have to start narrowing in on the ways and means.
I will probably edit this message, but I am going to go make dinner for the crew and sip on a martini while doing so. My brain is on overload, but I just have this feeling. I think I may have found my niche here. Thanks to all of you for your ideas and support!
luisa_calif
Well-known member
Best of All wishes for you and your project! Proud of you!
Wow! I am impressed! I think you have an excellent plan, and especially going on-line to order
is something that never ocurred to me.
May I make a suggestion about the soups? I prefer to avoid creamy, high carb soups if I have a choice. Maybe two choices, one of which is a more "healthy" soup?
Best to you, how I wish I could help!
is something that never ocurred to me.
May I make a suggestion about the soups? I prefer to avoid creamy, high carb soups if I have a choice. Maybe two choices, one of which is a more "healthy" soup?
Best to you, how I wish I could help!
tessie-in-cincy
Well-known member
Sounds like a good niche Dawn.
Cooking for adults vs. picky families would allow you to be more creative. I was chatting w/ a friend the other night about something foodie-wise her husband and I could do while the kids are in school but need us for sports/dance demands after school, evenings and weekends.
Please keep us posted as this might be something we might consider doing. -Tessie
Cooking for adults vs. picky families would allow you to be more creative. I was chatting w/ a friend the other night about something foodie-wise her husband and I could do while the kids are in school but need us for sports/dance demands after school, evenings and weekends.
Please keep us posted as this might be something we might consider doing. -Tessie
lana-in-fl
Well-known member
Good Luck, Dawn!
Someone did a lunch service near our school a little while ago, and lots of teachers took advantage of it. Yours sounds like a good bet!
Someone did a lunch service near our school a little while ago, and lots of teachers took advantage of it. Yours sounds like a good bet!