Food To Bank On project seeks new farmers

Media contact: Sara Southerland, Food & Farming Outreach Coordinator, sara@sconnect.org, (360) 647.7093 x114
          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         
September 20, 2011 – Bellingham, WA

Food To Bank On project seeks new farmers

Bellingham, WA – Applications are now available for the 2012 season of Food To Bank On, a beginning farmer business training and mentorship project facilitated by Sustainable Connections’ Food & Farming Program. The three-year project helps connect sustainable farmers in their first one to three years of experience, with business planning resources and experts, mentor farmers and new market opportunities.

In addition, Food to Bank On participants receive free Sustainable Connections membership, an educational stipend, marketing assistance and market rate payments to deliver thousands of pounds of fresh produce to local food banks, providing a foundation to build their business through relationships with retailers and restaurants, and seasoned area farmers.

These fledgling farmer-run businesses offer products ranging from produce to medicinal herbs, grass fed beef and heritage meats to eggs, reflecting the goal of diversifying locally-available agricultural products. In 2010, Food To Bank On farms delivered 5,000 lbs of food worth over $12,000 to area food banks, soup kitchens, shelters and social service agencies.

32 farmers have participated in the three-year program and one to two new farmers will be accepted for the 2012 season.

Food to Bank On applications are due November 1, 2011 and are available at http://sustainableconnections.org/foodfarming/FTBO. For more information contact Sara Southerland at sara@sconnect.org.

Local sponsors of the Food to Bank On Program are: The Community Food Co-op, Terra Organica, Mallard Ice Cream, The Sustainable Whatcom Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation, the Mary Redman Foundation, the Farm Fund and WECU.