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Food To Bank On

FTBO logo_2011


is a three-year farmer incubation project that connects beginning sustainable farmers with business training, markets and mentorship, while providing farm-fresh product to food banks and shelters.


Aspects of the project include:

  • Sandy Spade FarmTraining: Business planning, technical training workshops and field days in conjunction with the WSU Whatcom County Extension and industry experts on a variety of practical topics from soil health to financial management.
  • Markets: New farmers are paid wholesale rates to deliver fresh food to local food banks; farmers are also connected with new markets through Sustainable Connections membership.
  • Mentorship: In addition to valuable peer-to-peer relationships with the cohort of farmers in the 1st through 4th years of business, each new farmer is paired up with an experienced mentor farmer.

Brandie Lambin & Bradley Tremper, Sandy Spade Farm
Photo Credit Diane Padys photography (padyseye.com) - cropped

 

Thirty one beginning farmers have participated in the project since 2003. Two-thirds of the project participants are still successfully farming today.

The community, farmers, and the hungry all benefit from the innovative and effective work of the Food To Bank On project. Whatcom County food banks, soup kitchens and women's shelters have received over $57,000 in fresh produce since the programs' start in 2003.


FARMER PROFILES: Click here to see current FTBO Farmers

MORE INFO

 

INTERESTED in being a part of Food to Bank On?

 We accept applications for the following year each fall. Contact FTBO Coordinator, Sara Southerland at sara@sconnect.org for more information.


Many thanks to the 2012 Farmer Mentors

  Boxx Berry   Mike Finger   Cloud Mountain Farm

 
Osprey Hill Farm   Rabbit Fields   Farmer Bens

    


Food to Bank On 2012 Local Sponsors:

 

     mallard        coop     Terra

WECU         PSE Foundation   


2012 Brand Sponsors:                                         

                      woodstock foods               cascadian_farm_logo         muir_glen_logo              larabar_logo

           Cascade_Fresh_Logo            Frontier         nancys_logo                                                                                     

                                          


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