Fresh Local Produce. Photo by Kellie Henwood.
This spring, the Land Trust hosted the Strong Farms, Strong Futures appeal. In just two weeks, more than 130 people donated over $32,000. Half of the gifts went to the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund, a rapid response initiative created by North Olympic Development Council in partnership with WSU Extension, Jefferson Land Trust, North Olympic Land Trust, local food banks, and others.
We thought you’d all be interested to hear how that initiative is positively impacting our wider community. Thus far, more than $50,000 in pre-purchase contracts have been awarded to 12 local farms.
In Jefferson County, seven farms — Chimacum Dairy, Corona Farm, Midori Farm, Mystery Bay Farm, Red Dog Farm, Spring Rain Farm, and Sunfield Farm — all received pre-purchase contracts from the Olympic Peninsula Farmer Fund. Five more farms in Clallam County also received contracts.
Photo by Chrissie White.
In return, farms have already donated nearly $13,000 in food to local food banks and youth food programs. According to the North Olympic Development Council, which is overseeing the fund, the organizations currently receiving food are Chimacum School District, Chimacum YMCA, Forks Food Bank, Jefferson – Tri Cities Food Bank, Port Angeles Food Bank, Serenity House, and Sequim Food Bank. Additionally, some tribal food banks are receiving food from the program through Forks Food Bank.
Andra Smith, Executive Director of Sequim Food Bank had this to say, “This program allows us to get local products we haven’t received before like cheese and honey. We also get the long-term benefit of creating new relationships with local farms.”
It’s heartwarming to see this community initiative having such a wide-reaching effect. And its impact will continue as the farms fulfill the pre-purchase contracts in the coming years by providing fresh food to local food programs. Even better, with additional funds still coming in, a second round of contracts is planned in the near future.
For more information about the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund, visit the North Olympic Development Council website.
“This program allows us to get local products we haven’t received before like cheese and honey. We also get the long-term benefit of creating new relationships with local farms.” Andra Smith, Executive Director of Sequim Food Bank
“This program allows us to get local products we haven’t received before like cheese and honey. We also get the long-term benefit of creating new relationships with local farms.”
Andra Smith, Executive Director of Sequim Food Bank
