FOR LOCAL BUYERS
Benefits of membership
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.
Whether you are a restaurateur, chef, caterer, retailer,
institutional food buyer, or any business looking for fresh, local food—the
Food & Farming program offers valuable
opportunities to connect with producers of the high-quality local
products that your customers are increasingly demanding.
Many great other benefits specific to local food buyers offered by our Food & Farming Program are in bold below.
NETWORK & CONNECT:
- 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 with over 60 listings for local food & agriculture
producers offering the freshest and best of Whatcom's bounty
- Food & Farming program bulletins & updates
- 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
MARKETING & PROMOTION:
- Discounted listing in the "Whatcom Food & Farm Finder" (the comprehensive guide to local food (30,000 copies distributed at nearly 200 locations yearly)
- 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
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
- Tips on protecting our watershed - take the “Watershed Pledge”
- Significant discounts on food and farming specific events and workshops
- Organizational newsletters
CLICK HERE to become a member of Sustainable Connections and support the Food & Farming Program.
*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.
