FOR LOCAL BUYERS

 NEW!  The 2009 Wholesale Directory is now available, with 70 listings for local food & agriculture producers offering the freshest and best of Whatcom's bounty.  Download your copy here, or call 360-647-7093 x106 for a hardcopy.

Sustainable Connections offers valuable opportunities throughout the year for you—restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, retailers, institutional food buyers, and any business looking for fresh, local food—to connect with producers of the high-quality local products that your customers are increasingly demanding. While member surveys show that most members join because of each other—peer business and organization leaders who share values about the health of our community, environment and local economy, there are many great benefits of membership and we hope you’ll take advantage of all of them.  CLICK HERE to become a member of Sustainable Connections.

Benefits specific to local food buyers, offered by our Food & Farming Program, are in bold below.     

    • Twice-annual Producer/Buyer Trade Meetings where you
          can connect with local farmers and producers
    • Chef Farm Tours give you the opportunity to tour local
          farms, meet the farmers, & taste their wares in the field
    • Producer/Buyer Wholesale Directory guide listing* to help
          local producers connect with you
    • Food & Farming program bulletins & updates
    • Regular networking events
    • Member-to-Member email announcement every other week,
          and an opportunity to place your own announcements
    • Member-to-Member discounts between businesses
    • Annual All Members Meeting

    • Listing in the new "Local Food Guide" (30,000 copies),
          (the union of the Farm Map and Guide to Eating Local)
    • Use of “Buy FRESH” brand, recognized by 69% of
          Bellingham residents
    • Attractive Farmer Posters to highlight the farmers you work
          with and let your customers know you Buy FRESH!
    • Display and distribution of catchy "Our local business buys
          Fresh & Local" business cards
    • Free listing in our Sustainable Connections Member Directory
    • Free listing on our website with link to your website
    • Free coupon in the “Where the Locals Go” coupon book
          (4000 copies sold yearly)
    • Free participation in the Think Local campaign including
          materials and advertisements
    • “Sustainable Connections Business Member” window decal
    • Use of Sustainable Connections and Think Local logos

    • Bi-monthly Sustainable Practices emails
    • Tips on protecting our watershed - take the “Watershed Pledge”
    • Significant discounts on events including green building,
          food and farming, zero waste, and sustainable economy
          workshops and annual Spring Business Conference
    • Organizational newsletters

*There is a fee for these publications and events, steeply discounted for members, also available to non-members at market rate.  See membership form for details.