Tag: Local Food Initiative
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How King County farmers considering organic certification can benefit from USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program with Tilth Alliance
Transitioning more farms to organic practices is a goal of the United States Department of Agriculture, and since late 2022 the USDA has been working with regional partners to develop the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. TOPP is part of…
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‘Our principles are dignity and respect:’ Renewal Food Bank builds community, sustainability, and health on the Eastside
Tucked into an unassuming location in Bellevue, Renewal Food Bank is one of the fastest growing and most innovative food access organizations in King County. “The perception of Bellevue is that everyone buys a Tesla, and we got this fancy…
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New USDA-inspected meat processing help beef up regional options for local livestock businesses and their customers
To “meat” the needs of small-scale livestock operations in King County, the United States Department of Agriculture has issued a grant of inspection to a new meat processing facility just outside the City of Snohomish, clearing the way for a…
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From finance office to farm field: Aash Farms is building a resilient, sustainable brand from the ground up
“I was an analyst for 15 years in corporate finance and building that analyst’s brain allowed me to just think about food in a little bit of a deeper way,” said Aashay Savla, owner-operator of Aash Farms. “As I explored…
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How will the statewide drought declaration affect King County local food?
Climate change is making drought conditions increasingly common in Washington state, and this year is no exception. In April, the Department of Ecology declared a drought across nearly the entire state. The Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma metro area is excluded…
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Cooking up local businesses: the importance of commissary kitchens in King County and a new tool to discover more
When thinking of food businesses, a restaurant or farm probably comes to mind first. But what about all the other ways we get food? Local catering, bakeries, food trucks, prepared meals, processed goods like pickles and sauces, and food pantries…
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‘We want anybody who eats to be able to learn about and access local food’ – Eat Local First’s Washington Food & Farm Finder relaunched
The Eat Local First collaborative describes its work to enhance connections between consumers and local farmers and food businesses in communities across Washington as changing things for the better. “Local food offers the best nutrition, produces less waste, and supports…
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More land, less farms: 2022 Census of Agriculture highlights the importance of supporting small and mid-size farmers in King County
Since 1840, the United States Department of Agriculture has been collecting data on agricultural production across the country, including crop types, producer characteristics, farm incomes and many other datapoints every five years. All of this is compiled into the Census…
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Growing for Good: building resilience for farmers, food access, and markets to feed our community
The COVID-19 pandemic brought nearly everything to a halt – including farming. In April 2020, local farmers had already planted crops and invested time and money into the harvest when farmers markets were suddenly closed. With the loss of this…
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Fresh produce in February: Farmbox Greens’ hydroponic farm growing microgreens year-round
Imagine a farm. You probably think of a rural location, with rows of plants growing out of soil and soaking up the sun. However, in the center of Seattle, there is a successful farm operating with none of these features.…