A. Concise Summary – Pairing Empowerment, A World of Honeys & Cheeses

Honeys and cheeses have each been important ingredients on the menus of change for thousands of

years. Major social, agricultural, economic, spiritual and even technological advancements across nearly

all cultures and civilizations all have ties to these seemingly simple or commonplace food items. Today,

this trend is appearing again in the face of impressive supply and demand forces, giving honeys and

cheeses another opportunity to help flavor the pending changes we’re struggling to make to get to a

healthier, locally inspired, natural food future. It was this realization that prompted us to undertake the

preliminary work for building a Green Gold: Pairing Honeys & Cheese initiative, as outlined in a self-

published book that lays the foundation for using food pairing for food and economic empowerment in

the US and across the globe. We are seeking funding for a feasibility study targeting a US component

that will enable small and rural honey and cheese harvesters and artisans in N. Calif. to: ENTERPRISE

– Build and collaborative access a centralized, online, interaction-friendly honey and cheese pairing and

buying database for self-education, support, product promotion and sales; HYPOTHESIS – Test how

effectively such methods can build a community of honey and cheese entrepreneurs and facilitate their

financial viability (ROI) and influence on related harvesting and agricultural practices; BENEFITS –

Give participants a credible sales avenue, and engage their voices and collective power in production,

pricing, and commodities market trends that otherwise favor corporate profits and activities (such as

blending supplies to wash-out “uncontrolled” diversity. GRANT: We are seeking a one-year, $25,000

feasibility grant to detail and test the implementation of a US component while laying the ground work

for a global colony of honey and cheese entrepreneurship and innovation.

B. Statement of Need

Few people realize that honey isn’t just a sticky sugar alternative that comes in a plastic bear squeeze

bottle and that cheeses are far more than pre-sliced add-ons to fast-food burgers. We discovered this in

2009 when we conducted a (N. Calif.) honey and cheese pairing festival to raise money for our schools.

The outpouring confirmed that people knew little about these healthy foods even though they went nuts

with the idea of testing dozens. As a result, we reached out to the US’s and the world’s honey and

cheese sectors to learn about their histories, botanical commonalities, cultural importance, and how

countries of the world clearly see these commodities as being critically important players in the effort to

bring about viable, reachable economic recovery (eg. Bees4Development.org). Bee pollination and

honey selling businesses can be started quickly and inexpensively, resulting in direct and verifiable

income, agricultural and dietary conditions for low-income families and entire communities (in US see

Ben Hewitt’s The Town That Food Saved). Specialty cheese making and innovations are powering

gourmet trends and revitalizing small farms. Typical small cheese farms rely on just 15 to 25 cows,

generating remarkable and convenient ROIs and saving farms. As much as 30% of the world’s food

production depends upon bees and sugar markets are clamoring for healthier, non-corn syrup

alternatives (Agave is not as desirable). Cheese and honey sales are skyrocketing as government policies

restrict imports and exports (in China and Argentina) and as the US deals with colony disorders. Fast

food sales growth in many emerging nations have caused incredible, unhealthy attractions to processed

cheeses. Nearly every emerging economy has written projections (as has the UN) demonstrating how

honeys can positively impact local agricultural and family economic conditions. With 25% to 40%

shortfalls in supplies, Chinese and other companies are accused of chemically altering fake honeys.

C. Scope – Sweet and Savory Empowerment

We currently operate an innovative for-profit retail store and nonprofit consultancy. Our store features

local honeys and other gourmet products from the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Partner Allan Shore has

been a nonprofit consultant helping to design and secure grants for innovative socially responsible

business nonprofit businesses including recognized food service innovators (RubiconPrograms.org)

credited with bringing about current trends toward double- or triple bottom line approaches, which will

be the basis for determining if a “Bee” Corp model is appropriate. What we have done corresponds well

to national and international sector assessments, including the fictitious model business offered by

GIIN.org (Free-to-Bee Honey, http://iris.thegiin.org/report/free-bee-honey) as an example of how

markets can change. We hope the book will be picked up by Chelsea Green Publishing and that FoodTV

or other entertainment enterprises will see the appeal to augment fees, book sales and other revenues.

D. Objectives, Activities, Outcomes – Building a Viable Gourmet Followship

We now seek to develop a US business plan and companion global phase-in strategy. We expect to

aggressively seek investor funding to follow the feasibility study results as we:

I. Obj. 1: Develop and write formal business and implementation plan (3 months)

TASKS: Competitive analysis; financial projections (see GIIN sample); marketing, sales, promotion

II. Obj. 2: Formalize partnership business and professional association agreements, campaign/educational

goals and objectives. (3 months)

TASKS: Discuss key prices, participation rules, ownership, profit sharing, collaborative decision-making

III. Obj. 3: Determine costs for designing new or adapting portal and pairing software (6 months)

TASKS: Detail requirements; system expectations; programing, hosting, monitoring, linkage

requirements. Outline user details and agreement expectations.

IV. Obj. 4: Finalize launch, media, social networking events and companion food and entertainment revenue

initiatives (2 months)

TASKS: Buildup of social connectivity accounts, blogging and related posting sites, press packages,

tasting events, storytelling campaign, etc.

.

E. Collaborators – The Buzz Among Honey and Cheese Enthusiasts

We have not developed formal relationships. Putting the Green Gold book together we have

relationships with US Gov. Dept. of Agriculture, Honey.com, HoneyLocator.com, Global Impact

Investment Network, California and Wisconsin Cheese Boards, British Cheese Board, executives with

sector business associations, dozens of local honey and cheese harvesters and makers, gourmet lovers.

F. Organization Overview – Building A True “Bee” Corp Model of Food Empowerment

We currently operate as two sole proprietorships. We will determine whether to initiate a LLC or B Corp

as part of feasibility analysis with ownership and participation elements. Graphic and substantive

information is viewable at http://www.VentureCharities.biz. Start-up cost estimates are expect to be

$300,000 ramping to $750,000 over 3 years.