Author Archive for Leora

In the article An Apple Tree Grows in Suburbia by Stephanie Simon of the Wall Street Journal, a new trend is revealed: mixing suburbia and agriculture. Simon writes that “In a movement propelled by environmental concern, nostalgia for a simpler life and a dollop of marketing savvy, developers are increasingly laying out their cul-de-sacs around organic farms, cattle ranches, vineyards and other agricultural ventures.”

Compare that comment with the words of the American Farmland Trust. On the topic of farmland loss, they report that “during the past 30 years, much of America’s most fertile farmland has been lost to wasteful development…more than 23 million acres of America’s agricultural land have been lost to development—an area the size of Indiana” (source: Farmland By the Numbers).

But what about the benefits of mixing suburban development with agriculture? Simon writes that a mother of two hopes to buy a suburban home in a community focused on agriculture, and says that she knows her “kids will know computers, technology—all those things they’re growing up with,” but she also wants them to know working with their hands in a farm setting. A new mix of suburban homes and farmland could also provide revenue for homeowners growing food on their property and selling what they grow, and provide jobs for farmers who help take care of agriculturally focused landscapes in suburban communities.

So is “agriburbia” the newest and coolest, or part of the problem? Take a moment to leave a comment and share your thoughts with the FoodHub community.

FoodHub is hosting a free FoodHub member training!

We’ll be in Wenatchee from 10 – 11:30 am on Wednesday, September 14^th and in Yakima from 10 – 11:30 am on Thursday, September 15^th.

As the region’s most dynamic online marketplace for regional food, there are lots of different ways you can use FoodHub to your advantage. Come learn how!

Please join us. We’ll cover topics related to:

• Profiles: How to make yours stand out, add info relevant to potential partners and increase the # of people who visit your FoodHub profile.
• Search: How to conduct efficient searches to find exactly what you are looking for.
• Marketplace: How to write and manage Marketplace posts that generate new business and leads.
• Hot Sheets: How to send Hot Sheets to prospective customers and build customer contact lists.
• Message Center: How to build your contact lists, create and send purchase orders or invoices, and effectively communicate with other FoodHub members.
• What new features would you like to see? New features are developed based on member feedback; what would you like us to prioritize?
• What questions do you have about FoodHub. There will be plenty of time for individual coaching and question answering as well.

The training will address the needs of buyers, sellers and associate members and is open to ALL – you do not have to be a current FoodHub member to participate. In fact, I hope you will bring a friend or two! To that end, any FoodHub member who brings a friend to this training will be entered into a raffle for a FREE member spotlight. Win the raffle and your profile will be featured on the FoodHub website during a week of your choice.

Wenatchee Details:

Day:                      Wednesday, September 14^th

Time:                    10 – 11:30 am

Location:              Wenatchee Convention Center

Yakima Details:

Day:                    Thursday, September 15^th

Time:                  10 – 11:30 am

Location:            Yakima County First Street Conference Room

223 N. 1^st Street, Yakima, WA

RSVP:                    dkane@ecotrust.org

THIS INVITATION IS TRANSFERABLE. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE, THE MORE THE MERRIER.

If you are a buyer foraging for a specific product or a seller scoping the competition in your market, FoodHub’s product search tool is for you! To do a simple product search, type the name of any product into the search bar at the top right corner of any FoodHub page. This will take you to a list of all members who either buy or sell that product (learn more about adding products to your profile). If you’d like to narrow it down to the producers in your city or state, or to a particular variety, use the filtering tools on the left side of the screen to get the results you want.

Already know what product you want, when you want it, and where you want it from? Use [Advance Search] to set multiple search criteria at once. Chose [I want to buy] or [I want to sell], and then enter the name of the product you’re looking for or that you’re looking to sell. Then, set the search to your exact specifications, from specific varieties, as well as certifications, and Member details like business type or distribution methods.

Need a little help? Watch a tutorial video on using FoodHub’s search tool, or get in touch:

FoodHub Help Desk

Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm

meet@food-hub.org

Toll-free: 855-FOODHUB