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Member Fund Drive Nets $10,000

(March 7, 2005) Almost 250 members have responded to our 2004 year-end fund drive and member survey, renewing their memberships and making donations large and small. Our sincere thanks to all of you. Your generous contributions represent about one month of the organization’s annual operating budget, or put another way, the cost of producing this newsletter four times a year. We are heartened by your commitment to the Regional Farm & Food Project. It makes those of us who do the day-to-day work of the organization feel supported and appreciated; it let’s us know we are doing the right thing; and it makes it possible for the work to continue.

Almost all respondees completed a member survey designed to guide our future program development. The Regional Farm & Food Project has approximately 1200 dues-paying members, so 250 survey responses is a reliable sampling of member interests. Because our members are a diverse group from all walks of life, the survey asked them to identify themselves, their work and their interests by category. Results were 49% organic, 42% vegetables, 39% farmers, 39% farmers markets, 35% livestock, 31% land conservation, 30% fruit, 25% CSAs, 21% dairy, 16% grain, 9% fiber, 9% food processors, 8% schools, and 7% restaurants. Responses came from 10 states, however 85% of responses were from New York.