The Growth Project Community Market Our Foundation: 2 separate 5 acre farming properties centrally located in Port Coquitlam 1)A blueberry farm which has been in operation for the past 35 years -Seasonal blueberry market every July & August 2)A community project called The Growth Project (TGP) -This project has 8 different teams which develop solutions for TGP members & the community Farming & Food Production Wellness Integration Children's Learning Academy Community Building Infrastructure Development I.T. & Communications Legal & Business Development Emergency & Security Main objectives we wish to achieve: To be adequately prepared for the current harvest season approaching in July & August To expand the seasonal blueberry market into a community market operating throughout the year with many more product & service offerings. To have these products & services fulfill the needs of TGP members and the greater community. To develop TGP as a Community Support Hub model designed to provide solutions and assistance for those in need in the community. Phases of Development: Phase 1 - July - December 2023 Initial expansion to add other food products to the market -Branding of the TGP Community Market -Trademarking of logo, concept, etc. to protect intellectual property -Expansion of market to include other blueberry based products & certain select varieties of vegetables -Test market products from The Growth Project teams (ie. Grow towers, health supplements, emergency preparedness supplies, etc.) -Research & implement a Private Membership framework for the community membership -Develop the means by which to promote products available for sale to TGP members -Limited operating hours each week with weekly pickups (hours to be expanded as each phases is developed) Phase II January - June 2024 -Expand infrastructure & develop the systems required for a vegetable farming operation (Greenhouses, harvesting equipment, cleaning & prep stations, storage, packaging, retail) -Expand food product offerings (blueberry based foods, fresh fruits & vegetables, health supplements, etc.) Phase III June - December 2024 -Develop infrastructure required for community market retail expansion (mobile retail space, mobile storage space, mobile cooler) -Develop mobile commercial kitchen (TGP Food Truck) -Develop onsite dining areas for members (open area dining, Community House patio & picnic area, Geodesic Domes) Situational Analysis - SWOT Strengths *Established customer base -35 years of serving the community (blueberry farm customers) -Trust established with customers for consistently producing high quality blueberries year after year -High level of respect earned through impeccable customer service -Goodwill earned in the community through offering educational tours to teachers & school children -Very loyal customer base who are eager for more quality products *Farming experience & resources -More than 3 decades of experience in cultivating blueberries -Developed systems over the years for all types of farming related challenges (extreme rain, sun, pests, etc.) -Equipped with all of the farming machinery, tools & equipment required for blueberry farming *High quality product -We cultivate some of the best quality of blueberries available in the marketplace -Spray-free, large size, very flavourful & anti-oxidant rich farm fresh blueberries -Spray-free blueberries are increasingly harder to find due to the commercialization of berry farms -Size and flavour is due to the quality of the soil and cultivation practices which have been refined over decades -Our berries are higher in anti-oxidants because they are harvested and sold fresh each day (not stored) *Fair treatment of all labour -Complementary pick up and drop off service daily for those needing a ride to work -Fair compensation for the work that is done -Clean & equipped areas for dining, washroom facilities, rest & relaxation -Complementary refreshments & snacks daily -We treat our labour like our extended family *Resources on TGP which can be leveraged for addressing certain weaknesses -Labour can be housed across the street at TGP in the community house for the summer months -WWOOF - Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (www.wwoofinternational.org) -Other ideas? *Intangibles -Due to having a smaller farming operation we need much less labour than larger farms -6-8 full-time / 12-16 part-time harvesters -2 full-time / 4 part-time quality control -We usually have strong family support to fill in the gaps in the labour shortfall Weaknesses *Increasingly difficult labour market -All of our blueberries are harvested by hand (vs. machine) -Has been increasingly difficult to find labour willing to work outdoors during summer months when it is hot -We have a smaller farm with narrower rows so it is difficult to drive a regular harvester through them (harvesting blueberries by machine replaces labour but increases the loss of product and decreases quality) *Overworked & Tired! -I'm getting tired of running a blueberry season each year during the summer months -It's time for an exciting change of plans! -Hopefully so I can delegate responsibility for the farm so that our family can enjoy the summers Opportunities *Established ideal customer base who wish to support our expansion -Our customers believe in supporting local farm production and buying fresh direct from the farmer -High degree of trust, respect and goodwill established over the years with our customer base *Access to Farm Land -We have 3-4 acres of unused fertile land on TGP available for expansion into vegetable production -We already have a half acre under production for the TGP Farming & Food Production Team -Existing 1200 sq. ft (60ft x 20ft) greenhouse - more to be built *Location -Centrally located in Port Coquitlam - 30-45 min. drive from most urban centers in the Lower Mainland -Located in the ALR but connected to urban development all around us - thousands of potential customers (PoCo, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge) *Limited to no competition in our area -Most farms have shut down in our area leaving us as the main spray-free blueberry farm still running -Some reasons that local farms have closed their doors: -Aging owners -Lack of systems for quality control & production -> decreased business -Labour shortages -No competition for The Growth Project Community Support Hub model (Unique teams based concept) *TGP Teams are an ideal fit with the Community Market concept -Each team needs to produce & market products & services -ie. Farming team (food, greenhouse designs, farming education) Wellness team (alternative treatments for ailments, natural remedies, health workshops) Children's Learning Academy (nature based workshops for children, farming, building, cooking, creating) Emergency & Security (emergency preparedness workshops, emergency supplies) -The Community Market can sell whatever the TGP Teams wish to produce & align with *Shifting market demand -Consumers want to buy from local farms & connect with the source of their food -People are becoming much more health conscious and are seeking alternative solutions for wellness -There is a growing movement to develop support systems at a community level as the world changes -Parents want to provide expanded learning opportunities for their children beyond traditional schooling -Adults want to learn new skills to become more adaptable for the socioeconomic changes underway -People in general want to grow themselves and their capacities in exciting new ways! Threats *Unpredictable weather -Extreme weather conditions cause damage to the plants (scorch virus - 30-40% loss of plants) -Erratic weather patterns can lead to potential losses during harvesting (extreme heat, rain & cold temp.) *Pests -Potential for crop losses during extreme heat if berries become over ripe and they are not harvested on time -Damage is mostly mitigated with proper labour and harvesting the berries just as they are ripening Situational Analysis - 5 C's 1.) Company -Revenue has been steadily decreasing from blueberry production -Due to: decreased productive capacity of aging plants, plant losses due to viruses -The blueberry farm needs to adapt in order to stay viable -Logical solution is to leverage existing customer base and provide them other goods & services of value -This will require transforming a small seasonal farming operation into a thriving monthly business -I have prepared myself for the learning curve which will be required to accomplish this (ie. business plan, infrastructure expansion, marketing, etc.) 2.) Customers -Customer database needs to be organized immediately (800-1000 families) -Need to determine which Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to use -Criteria: user friendly, cost effective, expandable, good customer support -Need to have the CRM ready to send harvest season & TGP Community Market update by early June -Need to invite customers into the private membership platform for the TGP Community Market -Need to have a means of promoting new products & services to TGP Community Members -Develop ways to engage TGP Community Members on a personal level through socials & events 3.) Competitors -Limited competitors to the blueberry farm operation -Farms in the local area in our city don't have the quality or production capacity to match our operation -Farms beyond our area typically spray their berries -This results in customers preferring to purchase from us -If we have enough labour we usually sell out of blueberries on a daily basis -Berries not sold at the end of the day are frozen to be sold later 4.) Collaborators -Farmers who are producing fruits & vegetables that we could purchase wholesale -Manufacturers producing products that are of benefit to our community members -Initial phase of expansion - bring in as many products as possible that we don't grow or produce ourselves -We wish to form strategic partnerships and become distributors of the products that we align with -Engage in discussion with organizations who can potentially supply labour to our community project -Recruit skilled & committed team members for our teams on The Growth Project 5.) Climate -There is a resurgence of new ways to envision our world and our place within it -Traditional supply chains have faced delays, breakdowns and even shortages as systems change & adapt -There is a greater movement towards reliance on local community based systems for goods & services -People are searching for greater meaning to their lives as social and cultural values become redefined -People are foregoing materialistic pursuits & searching for a deeper connection within themselves -As they go within to understand themselves better they gain a better sense of who they wish to be with -This process is teaching everyone the true importance of community as we head into the future.

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