AGM report,

We held a very constructive AGM at Scourie last week  at which the main topic for discussion was the future of the group. Our original external funding ended in 2007, except for a small contribution from CASE in 2008. Basically we are close to the end of our reserves and we needed to decide the best way to use these funds.

Our main problems continue to be the distances and density of population, and getting sufficient produce to sell through the Food Link. Our experience as shown that there is still a largely untapped market for locally produced food that we cannot fill.

The outcome of the AGM was that we will follow a dual course. Firstly we will continue to run the Food Link stall this year in a similar manner to last year with regular weekly stalls at fixed venues and times. Some of the details may change but we will let you know later as we confirm out plans for the summer. This will use the remainder of our funds. In the mean time a small group from the management committee will be looking at what we wish to achieve in the future, with an emphasis on expanding the local producer base and then attempting to source funding to help us achieve this.

What came strongly from the meeting was the appreciation of the amount of  work that we have already put into the group and a belief that we have succeeded and had success’s in many things. We have built an identity  and have had influence in areas beyond our initial remit of selling local veg. We believe strongly in the value of the group and have a  continuing desire to build on what we have achieved so far.

In the past a lot of work was carried out voluntarily especially  the one off events that we run, in the future much more of the basic work will be done voluntarily and we would appreciate all the help we can get from the membership and supporters.

There are a few other things to report, which we hope to do in a news sheet shortly.