Happy New Year! We at FoodHub believe 2012 will be the year BUY LOCAL jumps from bumper sticker to business practice. We are particularly excited to support chefs at local restaurants making the leap – they have customers who care about where their food comes from, and the flexibility in their menus to take full advantage of each season’s harvest. Read the rest of this entry »
Catching Up on the State of Oregon’s Crabs
Posted on December 30th, 2011 by MeganJust before Christmas, FoodHub Member and owner of Local Ocean – a seafood retailer and restaurant in Newport, OR – Laura Anderson sent out the following newsletter.
We love it for three reasons: First, because she gives a shout out to our parent organization Ecotrust. Second, because she notes that this is going to be a great year for the industry. And finally, because it’s a great overview of some of the upcoming issues facing crab fishermen and one of Oregon’s most valued products.
Keep reading to be entertained and enlightened … Read the rest of this entry »
Washington, do you love your farmers market?
Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Megan
Tell them all about it when you nominate your favorite Washington Farmers Market, Market Manager, and Market Farmer for statewide recognition through the Washington Farmers Market Association.
Each year the Washington State Farmers Market Association recognizes outstanding Farmers Markets, Farmers Market Managers and Farmers for the value they add to their communities and for their diligent work connecting farmers to consumers through fresh, locally grown foods. The 2011 recipients will be honored during the Awards Reception at the 2012 WSFMA Conference, February 3 – 5, at the Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, WA.
Deadline to nominate is: Friday, January 6, 2012
For questions call: 206-706-5198 or email info@wafarmersmarkets.com .
Share Your Voice in the USDA Organic Production Survey
Posted on December 22nd, 2011 by Megan
From December 2011 – April 2012, the USDA will conduct a nationwide survey targeting organic farmers and ranchers. Data collected will include information on acres planted and harvested, the amount of products sold and the value of sales, marketing practices and more for field crops, vegetables, fruits, tree nuts and berries, livestock, poultry and livestock products.
This survey provides certified organic producers an opportunity to showcase their contributions to U.S. agriculture and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming in the United States.
From the 2008 Organic Production Survey, NASS reported the average production expenditures are higher for organic farms ($171,978) than for all farms nationwide ($109,359). Knowing the disparity in cost of production, this new information will help the USDA re-evaluate Federal crop insurance programs to ensure USDA certified organic producers receive equitable insurance rates and programs for the food and fiber they produce.
Your response will help shape decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues.
If you’re a USDA certified organic farmer you should have received a survey request in the mail with a code you can enter to complete your survey online. If you didn’t receive a survey in the mail, but think you should have, contact your state’s field office and ask for the statistician in charge of compiling survey data:
Oregon Field Office
1-800-338-2157
Ben Johnson, Statistician
Washington Field Office
1-800-435-5883
Wendy Vance, Statistician
Idaho Field Office
1-800-691-9987 or 208-334-1507
Andrew Brosier, Statistician
California Field Office
1-800-851-1127
Megan Lipke, Statistician
Montana Field Office
1-800-835-2612
Thomas Chard, Statistician
Alaska Field Office
1-800-478-6079
Suzan Benz, Statistician
If you did receive notice from the USDA and have your survey code click here to complete your survey online.
Buyers Reap Benefit of Food Safety Certfication Tool
Posted on December 15th, 2011 by Megan
Yesterday we posted in the blog about the launch of a new food safety tool developed by FamilyFarmed.org. The tool, called the On-Farm Food Safety Project, was funded in part through the USDA to provide greater access to GAP and GHP certification in hopes that more producers start tracing their food safety practices.
The website guides producers through the process of creating and maintaining a clear record of how food is handled and stored and lets you save your work and create a PDF of the file when you’re done.
What we’re particularly jazzed about is providing an easy way to obtain certification for producers means that more wholesale buyers who have food safety requirements already in place – from grocery stores to restaurants, schools and hospitals – will have greater access to a wider variety of local food. Throughout the process, the safety recommendations provided place special emphasis on the idea that having these best practices in place assures that buyers know produce is coming from a clean, well-managed environment.
Good stuff!
New Risk Management Tool from FamilyFarmed.org Helps Producers Achieve GAP Certification
Posted on December 14th, 2011 by MeganTomorrow, join Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, along with leaders from food and agriculture organizations, will host a media availability to introduce a free online tool to help U.S. producers of all sizes achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. The free online tool—developed by FamilyFarmed.org with funding from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA)—helps farmers design a customized manual to meet GAP certification requirements and mitigate business risks by answering just a few questions.
Speakers at the media availability will include: Jim Slama, President, FamilyFarmed.org; Will Daniels, Sr. VP Operations and Organic Integrity, Earthbound Farm; Michelle Smith, Senior Policy Analyst, FDA; David Gombas, Sr. VP Food Safety and Technology, United Fresh Produce Association; Marc Zammit, VP, Sustainability and Culinary Initiatives, Compass Group; Phil Petrilli, Regional Director, Chipotle Mexican Grill; and Steve Murray, Murray Family Farms, User of the On-Farm Food Safety Project tool.
The event is open to the media and a conference call line is available for those unable to attend.
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011
3:30 p.m. EST
WHAT: Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and leaders from food and agriculture organizations introduce new risk management tool to help producers achieve GAP certification.
WHERE: Room 107-A, Jaime Whitten Building (use Jefferson Drive entrance)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250
DIAL IN: 800-857-5233
Passcode: SECY (Given Verbally)
Trouble number: 202-720-8560
CALLERS: To join the Q&A portion of the meeting for MEDIA ONLY, please press *1 on
your touch tone phone.
And the winner of the iPad2 is …
Posted on December 13th, 2011 by Megan
Julie Hasson, owner of Native Bowl in Portland, OR! And now, some questions for our winner:
How long have you been in business?
We started two years ago in September.
How did you get started?
We had been in the food industry for over 20 years and loved the cart scene. My husband had a spur of the moment thought as he was perusing craigslist and found a cart. We’re always game for a new adventure and so within two days the cart was in our driveway. Five weeks later we were in business.
How are you going to put your new iPad to use?
We’ll use it for everything from ordering to credit card processing. All kinds of things.
Any plans for using FoodHub to source more local products?
I want to start using FoodHub more in the New Year. It’s a cool tool to have at our finger tips and I’m excited to really start getting more local produce directly from the farms. That’s what I love about FoodHub: You can connect directly with the farmer.
Thanks Julie and congrats!
Help End Hunger this Holiday Season
Posted on December 9th, 2011 by Megan
This holiday season, perhaps more than others in recent memory, the foodosphere is filled to the brim with news stories about food banks and soup kitchens that just can’t seem to keep up with the demand. With emergency food assistance needs at their highest level in years (According to Feeding America more than 14 percent of homes nationwide were suffering from food insecurity in 2010), helping people to a warm meal is a great deal more challenging.
There are several organizations trying to change that. And this season, if you want to spend your Christmas cash on a gift that truly keeps on giving, download this gift certificate from Farmers Ending Hunger.
Through their Adopt-an-Acre program, Farmers Ending Hunger helps get fresh food from fields to the mouths of people who need it. The funds generated through the program cover the remaining costs associated with product sorting, canning and freezing to extend the life of fresh produce, processing wheat to make pancake mix, storing the food and delivering it to Oregon Food Bank.
Click here to donate or Adopt-an-Acre today.
Adopt-an-Acre levels of contribution include:
| Two Acres | $500 | Feeds 1000 families of four fresh vegetables for one day |
| One Acre | $250 | Feeds one serving of pancakes to 2,300 families of four |
| One-Half Acre | $100 | Feeds one family of four the daily recommended allowance of vegetables for 250 days |
| One-Quarter Acre | $50 | Feeds one serving of corn, peas or green beans to 625 families of four |
| One Row | $25 | Feeds 190 families of four whole grains for one day |
NRCS Initiatives Offer Financial Assistance for Energy Audits, High Tunnels and Organic Operations
Posted on December 5th, 2011 by MeganThe Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) unveils three initiatives aimed to help producers conserve energy, extend the growing season, and assist organic production; applications for the first ranking period are due by February 3, 2012.
“The On-Farm Energy and Seasonal High Tunnel Initiatives are new to Oregon,” said Ron Alvarado, NRCS Oregon State Conservationist. “This is the fourth year for the Organic Initiative, which has been very successful here.”
All three initiatives are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. “These initiatives can help producers implement practices that protect or conserve natural resources,” said Alvarado. “For example, discovering ways to save energy on a farm is not only good for the environment, but also good for sustaining farm operations.”
The On-Farm Energy Initiative helps producers conserve energy on their agricultural operations. Funds may be used to develop agricultural energy management plans based on energy audits. Funds may also be used to implement recommended energy conservation measures.
The Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative helps producers purchase and erect high tunnels, or hoop houses. The tunnels extend the growing season for high value crops.
The Organic Initiative provides assistance to install conservation practices on agricultural operations that are either certified organic or are working towards organic certification. Funding is available specifically to address natural resource concerns such as soil erosion, water conservation, or plant condition.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis with three cutoff dates to allow for ranking applications: February 3, March 30, and June 1, 2012.
For additional information regarding these initiatives, visit the Oregon NRCS website at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.
Interested producers can determine their eligibility and submit an application at their nearest USDA Service Center, listed with federal agencies in the telephone book and posted online at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/basindir.html.