Good Food Social Enterprise Lab

Convening food systems leaders to fuel ideas and change

In March of 2010, Fair Food Network convened national food systems practitioners to identify cutting edge innovations in the field and inform funders on the best use of limited philanthropic investments supporting this work. As a result of this initial gathering, many opportunities, as well as the resources needed to implement and expand innovative food systems projects, were identified. (Learn more about Community Food Leaders Convening)

This group of leaders agreed that even more learning was needed to advance the field, particularly in the realm of food-related social enterprises. Based on this intense, yet very thoughtful conversation, the idea of exploring the field of social enterprise was introduced and the group agreed on gathering again before the end of the year to examine one case study of a social enterprise focused on food. That case study, Zingerman’s Community of Businesses in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was chosen because of its focus on customer service and its unparalleled commitment to both its employees and the surrounding community.

The Good Food Social Enterprise Laboratory

To take a deeper dive into innovative food systems projects, Fair Food Network, along with the Wallace Center at Winrock International and Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, hosted 30 food systems practitioners from cities nationwide to participate in a unique learning opportunity called “The Good Food Social Enterprise Laboratory.”

Purpose:

• Expose food systems leaders to an established, successful, food-related social enterprise to share best practices and fuel new ideas.
• Engage in further dialogue about the implementation of new, revenue-generating, food-based social enterprises that emphasize healthy eating, green living, equitable access, and affordability.

Over the course of three days, these food systems leaders had an opportunity to learn from best-in-class social enterprises through:

• Site visits to the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses
• A workshop by ZingTrain to learn the Zingerman’s business model as one that can be replicated in diverse communities nationwide
• Site visits to two, nationally recognized urban agriculture projects in Detroit (D-Town Farm and Greening of Detroit) that are addressing a variety of food systems issues through community engagement and revenue generating activities
• A panel discussion about access to capital and financing available for social enterprises from the perspective of three financing and enterprise support entities (New Foundry Ventures, Enterprise Detroit, and the Michigan State University Product Center)
• A guided tour of Detroit Eastern Market, Southeast Michigan’s local food hub

Highlights

The feedback received after the event was tremendous and included the following statements:

“We are still talking about all we learned and how it opened the door to realizing there is yet so much we WANT to learn. Thank you for organizing great workshops and tours!”

“I learned a ton from Zingerman's and others who attended, which I have immediately put to use in my work.”

“The Detroit tours and capital discussions were absolutely fabulous…really a rich experience.”

The Good Food Social Enterprise Lab is just the beginning of what we hope will be a series of learning opportunities that will allow community food practitioners to 1) realize the full potential for revenue-generating activities 2) engage and share with their peers and 3) learn from talented and committed individuals who are building whole communities one plate at a time.