The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, in collaboration with the Northwest Agriculture Business Center and Washington State University, hosted the 2010 World Tulip Summit from April 13-15. The Summit was the first held in the United States since its reestablishment in Ottawa Canada, 2002.

The 3-day symposium brought growers, distributors, festival executives, and government officials together from around the world as well as some “garden variety” tulip lovers to the Skagit Valley. Thirty four delegates came to represent their countries and participate in the fifth biennial Summit. Delegates from Turkey, England, China, Australia, Peru, Holland, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States enjoyed lectures from industry experts, country-specific presentations from delegates, and tours of Washington Bulb Company, Tulip Town, and RoozenGaarde display gardens.
 
A highlight for many was the lunch with gardening guru Ciscoe Morris. The popular radio host and dispenser of garden advice made a strong impression on visitors from foreign lands. Tulip expert Bill Miller of Cornell University also presented the latest findings in bulb research. Miller has done important work on carbohydrate metabolism and the physiology of greenhouse plants. Nurhan Atasoy, Resident Scholar at the Turkish Cultural Foundation in Istanbul, spoke about the history of tulips in Turkey. Professor Atasoy has written books about Ottoman horticulture, pottery, and art. Said Nurhan, “Tulips were first cultivated in Turkey during the time of the Ottoman Empire.”

Thank you to the sponsors and Summit steering committee members that worked so hard to put on a successful event!
 

The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild is developing an innovative new town center, BRICKWORKS. The proposed project creates a permanent year-round home for the San Juan Farmers’ Market, a local produce processing/cold storage unit and a community and tourism-related rental hall. The proposed community center building was once Friday Harbor Brick & Tile Co. It is the only remaining historic industrial building in Friday Harbor’s Historic District. The design provides for the building’s restoration and preservation and includes a greenspace park with walking paths connecting more of the historic downtown area. BRICKWORKS will take an underutilized property between Spring and Nichols Streets and turn it into a haven for local farm agriculture, art & crafts, agtourism and community events and activities.

Phase 1 of the BRICKWORKS project requires an estimated budget of $1.3 million for property acquisition, development, and establishment of a thriving facility. The San Juan County Land Bank has committed $400,000 for the purchase of an historic preservation easement on the historic building and a conservation easement on the greenspace that will also provide for public access. The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild’s goal is to raise another $400,000 from local supporters and $500,000 in state, federal, and grant funds. The Ag Guild has already begun securing significant support from local, regional, and national organizations and gained over 300 individual local supporters. Northwest Agriculture Business Center is supporting this project with a donation of technical assistance
 

Strawfield House and Farm opened its doors this month in Greenbank, WA. Husband and wife team Aracely and John Knox welcomed visitors to their Grand Opening Saturday, April 3rd with Live Easter Baskets filled with decorated farm-fresh Easter eggs. The farm stand is already open, and by this summer the small family farm will offer a diversity of meat and produce, from row crops and chickens, to orchard fruits, roses and turkeys. The farm’s mission is to preserve the beauty, productivity and integrity of the family farm.

Aracely is a trained cook with 10 years experience, and is a graduate of NABC’s Greenbank CSA Farm Training Center. This busy mother of four will teach field-to-table cooking and processing and is developing a new House Seasoning product. “Doing the internship at the CSA Training Center made all the difference,” recalled Aracely. “I’m so pleased to see the program is continuing.”

This season’s produce includes custom Farm Bouquets, lettuce, garlic, onions, tomatoes, greens, squash, herbs, raspberries, pears, apples, plums and quince; table grapes have been started for next year. Contact Strawfield House and Farm for more information: 360-678-1747.
 

NABC”s Greenbank Farm Training Center students need several second hand computers for researching data and information, and on-going communication with members of the community supported agriculture farm. If you have a computer or printer that you would like to gift to our program, please contact Sera Hartman by email or phone: 360-336-3727.

If you are interested in making additional financial contributions toward supporting the program, please make your check payable to NABC/Greenbank Farm Training Center and mail to PO Box 2924, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. We all thank you in advance for your interest and support.
 

Skagit Fresh Sparkling Juices are now available in two new retail accounts and at the Seattle Tacoma Airport: the local on-line site Amazon Fresh, the local Seattle Super Supplement chain and Kathy Casey’s two Dish D'lish airport restaurant locations. Amazon Fresh will be selling 4-packs of all four flavors at prices competitive with local retailers for direct home delivery in the Seattle area. Seattle Super Supplements will be selling single bottles of all four flavors in the refrigerated case next to the check-out counter. Dish Delish is a fast casual restaurant format that serves airport travelers high quality meals; single bottles of Skagit Fresh are available as a beverage. All three operations are strong supporters of local products and like the fact that Skagit Fresh Juices are 100% natural with no sugar added.

Skagit Fresh Juices were also presented at the recent Northwest Foodservice Show at the Seattle Convention Center on April 18th and 19th. It was highlighted in the new product showcase and was a hit with attendees; over 500 samples were distributed. Many foodservice operators signed up to sell the product once foodservice distribution is set up in April.

For more information on purchasing Skagit Fresh Sparkling Juices for re-sale please call Gary Merritt at 425-445-3888 or visit www.skagitfresh.com
 

On Tuesday March 16, a group of about 30 farmers and local agriculture supporters gathered at Brian Kerkvliet’s Inspiration Farm in Whatcom County, where WSU’s Dr. Steve Jones gave a talk on small grains. He spoke about the history of small grain production in Western Washington, which has declined significantly in the past 50 years, and how current breeding and growing practices could support the expansion of local production.

Dr. Jones related the results of a number of successful experiments including Nash’s Organic Farm, Sequim, WA, where hard red wheat with a 15% protein content was grown. Local grower Kevin TeVelde has been producing certified organic white spring wheat which is being purchased locally by Fairhaven Organic Flour Mill, and milled into pastry flour.

Dr. Jones and Kerkvliet took the participants on a tour of the farm to look at a number of different areas where Brian is growing experimental patches of different varieties of wheat. One of the varieties developed by Dr. Jones is named Bauermeister, after NABC’s Executive Director David Bauermeister’s family. David’s family has farmed wheat in Eastern Washington for three generations.

For more information about agricultural classes at Inspiration Farm you can access their web site at: www.inspirationfarm.com

Photo Caption:
Inspiration Farm owner Brian Kerkvliet listens as Dr. Steve Jones presents;
Photo courtesy of NW Farms & Food, www.nwfarmsandfood.com

We are making local food everyday food in Western Washington
The Puget Sound Food Network experienced robust membership growth in the first quarter as a result of targeted outreach and community involvement. PSFN buyers and sellers reported direct purchases/sales of products including eggs, honey, milk, cheese, pickles/sauerkraut, juice and beef. As more seasonal produce becomes available to wholesale markets, PSFN's online Marketplace and the weekly Live Market email--PSFN's version of a weekly fresh sheet-- will get longer and more diverse. We expect to see an increase new members and in available products and local transactions this spring and summer. Please join and help us grow PSFN today at http://www.psfn.org/account/join.php 
 
Is PSFN Working? Yes!
We were seen and heard presenting at over eleven conferences and food/agriculture forums since the November launch, including the Farmer Fisher Chef Connection, Cascade Harvest Coalition's Farm to Table events, and the NW Food Service Show. Close to 100 members and counting, PSFN represents food producers, wholesale buyers and service providers residing in Western Washington. We are working with restaurants, hospitals and schools, fisherfolk, farmers and food artisans. In fact, our Network has more than doubled in the first quarter, surpassing its first stage membership goal by a long shot! The initial discount period is now over, but exciting plans underway to grow the Network and connect farm to market like never before. Stay tuned!

PSFN staff has been participating in the Skagit Food Network meetings coordinated in Mt Vernon. As a result, relationships were fostered and the Skagit Valley Food Co-op has asked PSFN to partner with it in developing a live wholesale market to be launched this summer. PSFN has been tasked with finding out which of our members would be interested in showcasing their products to wholesale buyers. This is just one example of how PSFN is working to help food producers market their products.

Remember, PSFN is more than an online tool. Account managers provide marketing and networking assistance to members as well as locating processors and distribution. We are building relationships in the food community. PSFN will continue collaborating with our members and community partners to evolve our services and create solutions that benefit local food producers and businesses in Western Washington. We have already hosted three training and networking sessions and will continue to create more such meetings as we grow. Meetings like these are a great way to bring our online members face to face so they can get to know each other beyond email. Plus we have a lot of fun! Please contact Lucy Norris lucy@psfn.org if you have any questions about PSFN or are interested in hosting a meeting in your area.

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to farmland preservation. Donations to the NABC are used to support our mission to preserve farmland by strengthening the economic vitality of farming in northwest Washington.
Generous gifts from community partners will help sustain NABC programs like PSFN: http://www.agbizcenter.org/donate

Follow PSFN on Twitter or Facebook.
Please check in with our blog for updates http://psfn.org/blog  
 

Gary Strawder has a grade A goat dairy in Arlington. He is currently producing 30 gal/day of goat’s milk, soon to be 50 gal/day, or more. He has no market for his milk. He needs to find a cheese maker who is willing to take on his production to supplement their current supply, or an experienced cheese maker interested in working with him to establish a new creamery: perhaps an entrepreneur interested in making goat milk ice cream or other value-added product.  Gary has the capacity to haul his milk a reasonable distance, if necessary. He requires an immediate solution for this bounty of quality goat’s milk; something that can generate some cash flow to keep his operation solvent. Gary does not have a pasteurizer, but he has space to set one up as well as space for cheese making. Anyone out there able to assist with resources, expertise, or any good ideas would be greatly appreciated!  Please respond to Gary at (425) 422-4379, gary.strawder@live.com  

Join our Team! Ag/Business Expertise Needed!
Members of our agriculture/business community are invited to join the Skagit Valley College Study Tour to China – “Experience China 2010”, August 15-September 2, 2010. The highlight of the trip will be volunteering in the rural Tibetan villages of Sichuan province where we will work alongside villagers to assist in development of their community, agricultural and business resources. The farmers there are greatly in need of expertise to help them develop ways to add value to their raw agriculture products (apples and other fruit) through post-harvest processing, production and marketing.

We will also experience the major tourist attractions of China – the modern capital of Beijing, site of the 2008 Olympics and the Great Wall, and the ancient capital of Xi’an with the famous Terracotta Warriors. This is an “insider’s tour” led by SVC faculty member Ted Maloney, exchange faculty to Beijing Foreign Studies University, 2005-07. Cost is $2800, including airfare. Contact Ted Maloney, 416-7774, ted.maloney@skagit.edu , for an application and more information, or visit our website, www.skagit.edu/china2010.