SEMAP Business-to-Business Network
SEMAP's Business-to-Business Network works to connect local growers and producers with restaurants, caterers, schools, colleges, food processors, and other buyers interested in easy access to fresh local foods and farm products. The 2007 B2B Network involved over 70 participants, 40 producers and 30 buyers. Participants come from all over Southeastern Massachusetts and into Rhode Island and include farm businesses and buyers of many sizes and types.
The B2B Network is now integrated with SEMAP's Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign to promote local foods and farms, giving participants additional visibility and options for promoting your farm or business.
B2B Network Benefits
All participants in the SEMAP B2B Network receive:
- Listing in and copy of the SEMAP B2B Directory (in print and online). A comprehensive directory of participating local farms and food buyers including contact information, products available or needed, and information on delivery needs or capabilities.
- Bi-weekly fax or email of B2B updates listing available and soon-to-be-available products.
- Access to and assistance of dedicated B2B Coordinator to uncover new markets/suppliers and to facilitate buyer-grower meetings.
- Annual networking meeting for face-to-face connections with prospective business partners.
You can view samples from the 2006 B2B Directory here. Click on the links below to download PDF sample versions of the SEMAP B2B Network Directory, including participant, geographic distribution, and product lists. You will need Adobe Acrobat, available free on the Adobe website. All PDF's below are under 40K.
To view sample listings for grower/producer or buyer members:
Click on the links for:
2006 B2B Network grower/producer members.
2006 B2B Network buyer members.
2006 B2B Network members sorted by geography
.
To view samples of listings for particular products:
Click on the links to see sample listings of growers/producers offering vegetables, fruits, flowers/herbs, meat/seafood, value-added/specialty products, or nursery/greenhouse/hay crops. Full contact information is available in the member lists above.
To view a sample Bi-Weekly Update:
B2B Network participants also have the opportunity to contribute to and receive bi-weekly product updates. Listings of growers' available products are compiled and redistributed to buyer participants, reducing the time and effort required for participants to find new suppliers or buyers. To see the type of valuable information included, view a sample 2006 Weekly Produce Update.
How to join the B2B Network:
The SEMAP B2B Network is open to all growers/producers and business/institutional food buyers in Southeastern Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island communities. There is a $75 annual participation fee, covering all Network support and activities from our initial meeting in January through the end of the growing season in November. This fee also includes membership in our Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign, which promotes your farm or business to the public.
To learn more or be sure to receive information on the 2008 B2B Network:
Contact Sarah Cogswell, SEMAP Buy Local Coordinator, scogswell@semaponline.org.
Last Updated On: 4/20/08
Find Local Farms!
Visit SEMAP's UPDATED
online farm guide!
Click the 'Find local farms' link to go directly to the guide, or enter your search term below.
Special thanks to MDAR, Farm Fresh RI, and Island Foundation for supporting the online farm guide.
Support SEMAP!
Please help us sustain and expand our efforts to support local farms. We can now accept credit card donations through our 501(c)(3) fiscal agent, UMass Dartmouth Foundation: click here to make a donation.
