Fund for farmers supports local food production

Posted

A new fund will help farmers in Jefferson and Clallam counties provide local food for their communities.

The Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund, created as a partnership between the North Olympic Development Council, the WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program, the North Olympic Land Trust and the Jefferson Land Trust will provide pre-paid, long-term contracts of $1,500 to $5,000 to farmers this season.

Farmers will in turn provide food for food banks and local feeding programs over the next three to five years.

Like many local businesses, farmers have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Farmers markets and restaurants make up more than half of a farm’s sales every year, according to a press release from the NODC.

With restaurants closed and farmers markets scaling back operations, farmers are not selling as much produce.

“This quick-response program will provide immediate support for our local farms and a long-term stream of fresh food to local food banks.” said Karen Affeld, executive director of NODC. “Access to nutritious, locally-grown food is a gift that many of us on the Olympic Peninsula treasure, and we want to see that continue.”

The Farmers Fund will collect donations from community members to support the program through May 25 at noprcd.org.

So far, the organization has raised $42,000 from supporters of NODC, Jefferson Land Trust and North Olympic Land Trust and grants from Port Townsend Food Co-Op and Jefferson Community Foundation. The goal is to raise $50,000.

Applications for contracts will be available at noprcd.org and must be received by 5 p.m. on May 26. For more information, contact Karen Affeld at karen@noprcd.org.