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In response to challenges related to the COVID-19 virus, a group of local organizations have come together to provide information about food access for Jefferson County residents who might be in need.

“Our local food network is such a treasure here,” said Kellie Henwood, small farms coordinator with WSU Extension. “Farmers are providing a sense of stability in this time.”

The group, which is organized by the WSU Extension and volunteers from the Local 2020, as well as a variety of organizations, including the PT Farmers Market, Food Banks, schools and Jefferson Healthcare, plans to share up-to-date information on emergency food access, such as food banks, free meal locations, school food pickup and dropoff, soup kitchens and restaurant pickup information.

They also plan to promote local food resources, including farms, farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions and more.

As local employees and business owners experience economic hardship due to the closure of restaurants and shops, farmers, too, have experienced an immediate income loss from restaurants that purchased orders of locally grown vegetables, eggs and meat.

“Because a lot of farmers have lost direct sales to restaurants and Seattle farmers markets, it is vital that we are buying and selling locally right now,” Henwood said.

At the Local 2020’s website l2020.org/COVID-19/, the group has compiled lists of farm stands, home delivery and farms offering CSA, as well as information about local food banks, restaurants, grocery stores and free lunches for kids.

According to market director Amanda Milholland, the market hopes to open for its 28th season on April 4 in Uptown Port Townsend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, but they are taking the community’s health seriously.

She and her board of directiors plan to make a final decision on whether the market will open this week.

“We are looking at a very different market if it opens in April,” she said.

The board is looking to design a market that is a healthy and safe environment, but one that is still an important food outlet for the community. This will likely mean a scaled-back market, with fewer vendors and no live music or events, in addition to an online market for those who wish to stay at home but still have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“We are taking the coronavirus very seriously,” she said. “It will take a community mindshift.”

If it opens, the market will launch the dollar-for-dollar SNAP Match program serving shoppers who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT).

For the first three months of the farmers market season, April through June, the farmers market will offer dollar-for-dollar matching without a cap.

This means that for every dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables, shoppers who use SNAP/EBT will receive a matching dollar good for fresh fruit and vegetables.

“Especially during this time when there are a lot of people unemployed, it is important for us to be offering this match without a cap,” Milholland said.

Go to jcfmarkets.org for more information on the farmers market.

Another way to support local farms and get a delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables every week is by purchasing a CSA, which stands for “Community Supported Agriculture.”

Every farm operates its CSAs differently; some offer weekly delivered fruits and veggies, others offer fresh-baked loaves of bread, while others have canned food items. Many CSAs have pickup locations, while other farmers deliver to your home.

“Now is the time to lean on our local food network,” Henwood said.

A CSA not only ensures a regular food source for a customer, but also supports local farms and their employees.

“You get immediate food security every week,” Henwood said. “That farmer then has cash flow early on in the season when they need it most.”

Farm stands are another way to support local workers and pick up fresh produce on a weekly or daily basis.

At Red Dog Farm in Chimacum, the farmstand is stocked with the latest harvest of kale, carrots, onions, garlic and other vegetables, as well as fresh tulips.

Customers can drive up, choose their produce and pay with cash or check. No human interaction is necessary, making it a good choice for those concerned about going to the grocery store and being exposed to large groups of people.

The Chimacum Corner Farmstand is also offering shopping and delivery services. The farmstand has a host of local produce and products, such as eggs, dairy, meat and more. Go to chimacumcorner.com/delivery or call 708-275-2468 to learn more.