November 21, 2024 – Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC), an agricultural program within Sustainable Connections (SC), will be channeling its focus and refining its programs in 2025. CMFC is an educational farm center located in Everson, Washington that has been a part of Sustainable Connections since its official merger in 2019. For over four decades, Cloud Mountain Farm Center has been home to incredible diversity within its orchards and vineyards, producing a wide variety of tree fruits, vegetables, berries, grapes, and other small fruits, as well as serving the community through an expansive nursery.
As CMFC operational costs increase and fundraising challenges grow, Sustainable Connections has made the decision for its fruit production program to be on hold in 2025. Cloud Mountain Farm Center staff will continue to maintain the orchards as SC looks for new partners to manage organic fruit production. The organization is acting now so that it can continue to sustain and grow its other impactful programs – the overarching goal is to find a partner who will continue to support and produce high-quality, organic fruit to benefit the needs of the local food system.
“We did not make this decision lightly,” says Bruce Tabb, president of the Sustainable Connections board. “The Cloud Mountain Farm Center fruit production program is one we wish we could continue stewarding forever. However, despite significant efforts to secure additional grants and funding after a major annual grant for food systems work ended, few have been successful.”
Cloud Mountain Farm Center’s nursery will be opening as usual on February 1st, 2025. Additionally, Sustainable Connections plans to focus energy in the new year on classic workshops, which include basic fruit tree care, vineyard management, and site design. CMFC and SC extend gratitude to those that participated in our newly trialed community-led workshops and welcome you to participate in their classic workshop series.
These changes will enable SC to deepen its commitment to programs that have the biggest impact on the regional food system. This programming includes the youth education centered Agriculture Career Exploration program, hands-on workshops, and shared processing, aggregation, and storage facilities.
SC and CMFC are open to creative solutions for existing farmers and for the future of the land. They invite you to connect with them personally to share thoughts, ideas, suggestions, or ask questions about upcoming changes.
CONTACT: Derek Long, 360-647-7093 x101, derekl@sustainableconnections.org.