Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Building The Local Food Network

One of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center’s (NABC) missions is to improve the economic vitality of the agriculture industry within the northwest Washington State counties of Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom by providing business resources and hands-on guidance.  Farmland preservation is another.

David Bauermeister of the Puget Sound Food Network; and
FFA Members Project Presentations
KCAA General Meeting
Silverdale Grange Hall
12535 Clear Creek Rd NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

But one of this highly successful 501 (3) c organization’s programs is state-wide and has the potential to provide huge benefits to members in Kitsap and other counties. That program is the Puget Sound Food Network.

The Network’s primary purpose is to connect all aspects of agriculture, from producer to buyer to consumer… so they can communicate, find each other, and develop mutually supportive business relationships.

At the next KCAA meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 9, at the Silverdale Grange, the NABC’s Executive Director, David Bauermeister, will be giving what promises to be a fascinating, informative presentation on the Puget Sound Food Network and how it works.

“Bringing the farm to market is the goal of the Puget Sound Food Network,” says Bauermeister.

And receiving some of those products more directly from farm to market is one of the benefits the FreshLocal food store in Bremerton hopes to receive.  Jean Schanen of FreshLocal says they joined the Network just last week.

“I joined as a result of going to a Farm to Table workshop in Mt. Vernon and I’m looking forward to exploring and using the Network, particularly in regard to new, more direct food distribution opportunities. Right now, a local producer within 25 miles will bring food to me but I have to use a food broker for most local things on the other side of the water,” says Schanen

One of the big benefits of membership in the Network for farmers is providing a venue to showcase their products, expand their market, and to sell online.   Potential buyers can get product and contact information from sellers; correspondingly, farmers may also obtain contact information for possible markets, such as stores that feature locally produced items.  This also applies to finished product producers such as jam and jelly makers who use local produce for their product.

Helping to promote and foster a regional coordination with other producers with like needs such as supplies and distribution cooperation is another part of the program.

But there are benefits for the ultimate consumer as well.  Placing orders, paying on-line and arranging delivery with participating producers can result in tremendous savings as well as being assured of fresh local goods.

While the Puget Sound Food Network can be of direct benefit to food producers, sellers and consumers, here David Bauermeister will also be giving some useful information on some of the many outstanding projects the Network’s  sponsor group, the Northwest Agriculture Business Center has been involved with helping to promote or start in their local five-county  area.  Some of these may stimulate ideas for similar projects here.

Local, state and federal grants and funding have been obtained for many of NABC’s projects.  Projects include the following:

-establishing a permanent farmers market local in an historic building in Friday Harbor

-helping to establish “Whidbey Island Grown” local marketing group

-helping to get local farmers’ products into schools

-Greenbank Farm Training Center for new small scale farmers at Greenbank CSA

-Ten month value-added product development course

-Production of maps and guides for Arlington-Marysville Red Rooster Route and Skagit Valley Farm Guide

For people involved in local food growing, distribution and selling businesses, the March 9 meeting of the KCAA featuring Mr. Bauermeister should be a must-attend. More information about the Northwest Agriculture Business Center is on-line at: www.AgBizCenter.org and Puget Sound Food Network is at:  www.psfn.org