2009 Farm Guides are here!

Yee-haw! The 2009 Puget Sound Fresh Farm Guides have arrived. This year, we have a completely re-designed guide thanks to Lida Enche-Keene, our go-to graphic design artist and illustrator. Here's a taste of what's inside:


Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this wonderful publication possible! If you are interested in getting your hands on some guides, please let me know: mark@cascadeharvest.org.

Mark

2009 Farm Guide -- Apply for ad space today!

Here's the announcement:


The Puget Sound Fresh Farm Guide, now entering its 30th year of circulation, is the go-to directory in the region for farms, farm products, harvest events and farm-related businesses. Advertising your farm or business in the Farm Guide is an affordable and highly effective way to reach potential customers interested in local food and farming. Nearly 100,000 copies are distributed to potential customers via libraries, coffee shops, farm stands, doctors’ offices, community centers, regional events/trade shows, and more. In addition to the printed edition, the Farm Guide is also available online at the Puget Sound Fresh webpage, which is one of the most visited food and farming websites in the region.

Consumers trust the Farm Guide to be the most comprehensive food and farming consumer resource available. Farm Guide readers will find:

• Farm Listings: up-to-date contact/location info, product availability, and compelling descriptions of the farms and farmers.
• Farmers Markets: locations, operating dates, and what products and events customers can expect to find.
• Seasonal recipes: what to do with that Patty Pan squash you got from a local farm? The Farm Guide has a bunch of useful recipes all from local farmers and chefs.
• Event Calendars: find out what’s coming up in 2009, from county fairs to harvest celebrations to u-pick opening dates and more.
• Your farm or business!

“The Farm Guide is a resource I turn to when I'm trying to track down a particular food, but it's also one of my favorite places to find things to do in summer and fall. Visiting farms during county harvest festivals, getting out of the city to check out some new farm stores--even the ads are a great resource,” says edibleSEATTLE magazine editor Jill Lightner.

Right now, you have an opportunity to secure a spot in the 2009 Farm Guide. Advertise in the 2009 Farm Guide and declare your support for local farms in the Puget Sound region.

Mark

Stumbling Goat in the NY Times!

This is just a quick notice that Seattle's very own chef Seth Caswell from Stumbling Goat Bistro is quoted in this week's New York Times food section. Big shout out to our friend Seth! And to the Ozette potato!

Mark

2008 CSA Directory and Farm Guides

The 2008 CSA Directory is finally here! It's already picked up some press at the Seattle Weekly's Food News and Reviews blog, Voracious. Nice. Someone out in the food writing community is paying attention. I will now read all of Jonathan Kauffman's articles with greater appreciation.

In addition to the CSA brochure, we also have the 2008 Puget Sound Fresh Farm Guides. When it rains, it pours! We will be distributing them around the Puget Sound region over the next few weeks.

In other news:

Here's a video made by a French documentary-maker (documentarian?): "The World According to Monsanto."

An interesting article that explores rising food costs from multiple angles. "Putting your money where your mouth is."

And another article, this one from NY Times Op-Ed Columnist Paul Krugman, that succinctly connects the rise in popularity of biofuels and the current World food crisis. "Grains Gone Wild." One question: yes, replacing land that can grow food with crops earmarked for biofuels isn't a solution, but shouldn't distribution of food also be a primary concern? What's the point in growing food if it never feeds anyone? Previous policy has given farmers the option to not grow food in an effort to balance supply and demand, but in an increasingly global society, where overpopulation and hunger are daily issues, shouldn't efforts be made to grow as much food as possible, so long as an efficient method of distribution is in place to effectively feed people? As I wrote that, I found that I disagreed with myself. Anyone else? Why?

Finally, an interesting study that examines the link between organic agriculture and climate change. If Tim Crosby ever reads this blog, this one's for you. "Organic Farming and Climate Change."

That is all.

Mark

Howdy (PSF) Partner!

The word is plastered all over the 24-hour news channels, newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. :

CHANGE

2008 is the year of change. Ambitious, huh? Well, CHC is jumping on the Change Bandwagon.

How will we change? One example will be the revamped Puget Sound Fresh "Partner Program." One of our stated goals for Puget Sound Fresh is to increase the value of the program to the program participants (farmers, chefs, grocers, farmers markets, and consumers).

To start the revamping process, we will focus on encouraging more area chefs and restaurants to become PSF Partners. We will work collaboratively with some of the area's top chefs to build PSF brand recognition with the overall goal that when a person in the Puget Sound region wants a great dining experience made with locally grown food they will be able to quickly seek out our partner restaurants that work with local farmers and serve Puget Sound Fresh food.

Just like that, the ability to access Puget Sound Fresh Food is changed for the better! That's one way that CHC is working to make 2008 our best.

Mark