What is a Food Value Chain?
According to the USDA, Food value chains are “strategic alliances between farmers or ranchers and other supply-chain partners that deal in significant volumes of high-quality, differentiated food products and distribute rewards equitably across the chain.”
What is Value Chain Coordination?
According to research conducted between the USDA and Wallace Center, Value Chain Coordination is defined as, "a market-based approach to developing local and regional food systems that better serve communities. Value chain work includes the development of collaborative ties among businesses along the food supply chain, with the expectation that the economic position of these supply chain members improves. Value Chain Coordination describes leveraging the soft infrastructure, in the form of skills, competencies and relationships, in a food value chain. With a strong soft infrastructure, individuals and organizations are far more readily able to acquire and utilize hard infrastructure in their communities." Multiple people from nonprofit, public, and private sectors can perform value chain coordination roles in a community food system, however it is increasingly important and impactful to have a dedicated professional to focus on local and regional food value chains to ensure equity and access to markets, in particular those who have been marginalized or shut out of market channels.
What is a Value Chain Professional?
Value chain professionals (VCPs) wear many hats - they work with food suppliers (farmers and food businesses) and buyers (chefs, food services, distributors) to create market channels based on shared values and shared risk. VCPs first and foremost build trust with stakeholders to establish support. Ultimately, VCPs build social and economic networks, laying the foundation for long-term, local business to business connectivity critical for local and rural economies. Value chain professionals serve as a central point of contact for food system stakeholders in the region where they work.
Why a value chain?
Farmers and buyers may have certain values they are seeking in food stuffs that are part of their decision on whether or not to buy. Values can include: local, fresh, high-quality, pasture-based meats, certified Organic, regional, non-GMO. Values can also be part of an adopted standards program such as the Cool Food Pledge, Anchors in Action, the Good Food Purchasing Program, Healthcare Without Harm, or the Green Restaurant Association. These programs have standards and metrics that enable buyers to establish criteria for purchasing that will help them choose more sustainably produced food.
Rachel grew up in Wabash County, Indiana, outside of North Manchester. Her hometown hosts the examples of businesses at both ends of the food production spectrum- from large commodity crops and egg-laying operations, to under 100 acre diversified homesteads. After studying Geography at Valparaiso University and gaining many mentors through work at local restaurants, distributors, and with local food advocates, she has realized the depth of impact that the industry of agriculture has on our culture, physical health, and overall wellbeing. Her passion for small businesses and sustainable agriculture took her to work the last 3.5 years with Market Wagon, building producer relationships within their online farmers market. Prior to that she worked with local, national, and international brands at Indiana Beverage in sales and marketing roles. Rachel is now working on statewide value chain coordination as Indiana State Department of Agriculture's first Food Distribution Manager. She is thrilled to view this work through this lens as she grows partnerships, identifies challenges and successes, and continues to support a more resilient food system. <RBrandenburg@isda.IN.gov>
Lauren Kuester the Community Outreach Coordinator for Urban Seeds, based in Evansville. She is a passionate advocate for local food systems and community care. She has a diverse background in the food industry, program management, and community building. Having worked at Local Source, an online local farmers market here in Evansville, she has valuable experience in supporting local farmers and producers. Lauren’s role will involve strengthening relationships between local farmers, producers, and residents in Southwestern Indiana, and increasing awareness of our local food system through community building, programming and educational outreach. 
With an extensive background in the restaurant and brewery world, Anna decided to pursue her own dreams and start her own beverage company followed by a cafe in 2014. What started as a small passion project brewing kombucha for friends and family, turned into a full blown business in a matter of months. Anna loved traveling throughout our tri state area delivering kombucha to restaurants, groceries and bars for the 7 years she did it. Her Cafe in Gary Indiana's beach side community, Miller brought her a lot of joy and allowed her the ability to be directly in communication with the community. Her Cafe was a gathering place for a wide range of people from State Senators to the transient traveler. During the pandemic, Anna decided to close the doors of both businesses and start a new career with the NWI Food Council. Here she is still able to pursue the projects and outreach that bring her joy and fulfill some of her life's purpose, while also providing stability for her and her family. 
Allyssa
Porchea
The Food & Growers Association (FGA) is the oldest local food farmer organization in Indiana and continues to support the regional food economy in SE Indiana through multiple initiatives. The FGA was formed to respond to the needs of farmers, individuals and health professionals who see the connections between community health improvement, sustainable agriculture and a viable local economy in Southeastern Indiana. 
Becca Tuholski has an undeniable passion for local food systems, resilient community building, and community education. From her time as an Agricultural Science Teacher at LaPorte High School, to her ongoing career as a beginning farmer alongside her husband on their farm (Tuholski Produce), to her current role as the Local Food Access Coordinator with the NWI Food Council—Becca is dedicated to strengthening our food system from the ground up.