Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund Helps Local Farmers and Food Banks
The Olympic Peninsula was an early seat of agriculture in Washington. The region and its Dungeness Valley were among the first to be farmed in the state. Today, despite pressure from development that has greatly reduced the amount of agricultural land, the area remains home to a diverse network of small farms that supply fresh, healthy food to area residents and larger cities across the Puget Sound. The mild climate and alluvial soils produce greens, mixed vegetables, fruits and berries, grains, dairy, meat and eggs. Nonetheless, the 2017 Census of Agriculture found that only 10% of farms in Clallam County and 15% in Jefferson County had more than $25,000 per year in revenue. Many farms operate on the brink.
Access to nutritious, locally-grown food is a gift that many of us on the Olympic Peninsula treasure. But today, many of the local farmers who provide this food are struggling — their livelihoods and futures threatened by COVID-19. Restaurant closures have dried up wholesale markets, regional delays in farmers markets have erased needed income, and many farmers are having to make new investments to get their food to remaining markets safely. At the same time, local families who have lost their jobs are struggling to put food on the table and are turning to local food banks for support.
Farmers in Jefferson and Clallam counties are getting much needed financial help from the community as they try to stay afloat in the wake of COVID-19.
Local farmers were just gearing up for spring when some lost the bulk of their customers and income.
“We rely on farmers markets and restaurants for 65% of our sales every year. With farmers markets either closed or just starting to re-open in a limited way we’ve lost a lot of revenue and we don’t know when or if there will be restaurant orders, or in what volume." said one Olympic Peninsula farmer.
In response to this need and to provide a way for community members to support farms, the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund was created. “This quick response program will provide immediate support for our local farms and a long-term stream of fresh food to local food banks.” said Karen Affeld, Executive Director of the North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council (NODC).
The program is a partnership of NODC, WSU Extension Small Farms Program, North Olympic Land Trust and Jefferson Land Trust. Contracts to local farmers will be administered by NODC.
Money from the Farmers Fund to local farmers is not a grant or even a loan. The money will provide pre-paid, long term contracts of $1,500 to $5,000 to farmers this season and then the farmers will provide food for food banks and feeding programs over the next 3-5 years. “The Farmers Fund is a way for people to help local farmers and also benefit area food banks,” said Affeld. “The donations go twice as far.”
The goal of the drive was to raise $50,000 and they are well on their way with over $42,000 in donations from supporters of NODC, Jefferson Land Trust and North Olympic Land Trust and grants from Port Townsend Food Co-op and Jefferson Community Foundation.
Covid-19 has made the future of our farms even more uncertain while our food banks are seeing a tremendous surge in need. Your support for the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund will help keep local farmers in business while providing food for area families. Please support this win-win program today.
To donate:
https://www.noprcd.org/olympic-peninsula-farmers-fund
https://northolympiclandtrust.org/event/support-the-olympic-peninsula-farmers-fund/
https://saveland.org/supporting-local-farmers-families-and-fresh-food-forever/
*The Food Co-op has donated $2500 to this fund as of 06/02/2020
For more information, contact Karen Affeld at opff@noprcd.org
