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Archive for the ‘Emails’ Category

Oregon, Washington Host FDA Listening Session on Fresh Produce Food Safety Standards

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SALEM, OR – Small farm operators and interested parties in Oregon and Washington are invited to comment on fresh produce food safety standards being developed by the US Food and Drug Administration. A listening session co-hosted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is scheduled for May 5, 2010 in Portland with officials from FDA, the US Department of Agriculture, and the two hosting state departments of agriculture on hand to take input.

FDA is currently developing fresh produce safety standards for farms and packing houses along with strategies and cooperative efforts to ensure compliance. Officials are interested in hearing concerns and experiences with implementing food safety requirements in farming and packing operations. The input will help guide efforts to enact food safety regulations for the produce industry over the next few years.

ODA Director Katy Coba and WSDA Director Dan Newhouse will provide opening remarks at the listening session.

The Pacific Northwest Small Farms Listening Session will be held Wednesday, May 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at the Sheraton Inn Portland Airport, 8235 NE Airport Way. Registration is not necessary. For more information, contact Sherry Kudna, ODA, at (503) 986-4619 or by e-mail at skudna@oda.state.or.us

Listening session agenda http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/100421fda_agenda.pdf

Federal docket providing background information on FDA procedurehttp://www.oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/100421fda_docket.pdf

 

Posted by Elliot on April 22nd, 2010

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WA State Small Business Liaison Group Webpage

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The Washington State Small Business Liaison Group is working on a one-stop website for small businesses.

The group has taken a comprehensive look at government and non-profit business services available to small businesses and has created an inventory that needs some STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK in order to test how the information should be organized for the webpage.

If you have a few minutes, and have your own small business, please take a look at this Excel spreadsheet and fill it in by ranking what services you would use first and foremost.

Please send responses to pbarrentine@agr.wa.gov by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday 4/21.

Posted by Elliot on April 15th, 2010

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Washington State Department of Corrections Seeks Local Farm Vendors

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Washington State Department of Corrections has embraced the challenge to improve sustainability in its facilities.  Several prisons already have inmate garden programs.  To build on this effort, they are launching a local produce purchasing pilot program at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen and Monroe Correctional Facility in Monroe for the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons.  These facilities are calling for farms to participate as direct market vendors in the program.  The Monroe and Stafford Creek facilities each have programs for inmate food processing and preparation.  Farms will be encouraged to sell produce in a field-packed, unprocessed state in order to keep costs low and optimize the benefits to both buyer and seller.

BONUS OPPORTUNITY: If you are interested, and want to get started early, we are seeking farms who have product to sell to Monroe Correctional Facility, who can deliver on April 19th and do a tasting for an Earth Day event they are having.  Please call ASAP if you’d like to participate.

For PSFN members who are interested in more information contact Tricia Kovacs.
Phone:  206-256-6150
tkovacs@agr.wa.gov

Posted by Elliot on April 9th, 2010

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Food Lust 2010

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The feast is on! And so are ticket sales….

Cascade Harvest Coalition’s fifth annual gala feast and auction returns Saturday, June 5 with a brand new farm venue – The Fields at Willie Green’s Organic Farm in Monroe.

Start the evening with Washington wines, cider and beer along with tempting appetizers as you browse the silent auction and stroll beautifully landscaped grounds filled with ornamental ponds, a babbling stream and circular garden brimming with fragrant flowers.

Feast upon the inspired creations of our Puget Sound farmer and chef friends and get ready for the live auction, Bottle Brawl and Dessert Dash – and support the work of Cascade Harvest Coalition and our mission to build a sustainable local food system, help farmers stay on the land, and build a healthy environment and community.

Tickets are $85 and on sale now at Brown Paper tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107092

For more information or if you’re interested in donating an auction item, becoming an event sponsor or volunteering, please contact Sheryl Wiser, sherylwiser@comcast.net or 206.632.0606.

Posted by Elliot on April 7th, 2010

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Spring Into Bed: Seattle’s Food Revolution Celebration

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Spring into Bed is a grass-roots, city wide, garden building event and fundraiser – building, strengthening and celebrating our flourishing community food systems.

Spring into Bed is a “Fun-Run” about supporting at minimum 10 gardeners with low incomes build gardens.   However, rather than raising money for cancer research, we are working to prevent cancer–caused by poor food access–in the first place.

For anyone who is fond of the work of Will Allen– “ Stop talking and do something within 3 months” — there  is an event this Spring that requests your support .  On May 8th organizations in Portland and Olympia are both building 10 gardens on the day so Seattle can at least match that, right?

This is an opportunity for direction action–captains are needed who will help fund-raise and help build the gardens the day of the event. $1000 will build a set of 3 raised beds and help another 3 get built in the future.

Check out SpringIntoBed.org for me info.

Posted by Elliot on April 7th, 2010

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Help Lincoln Elementary School Win $1000

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Lincoln Elementary in Mount Vernon created a video about our efforts to improve the food at their school and entered it into the National Farm to School “Real Food Is” video contest. Now they’re in the top 4 and the only video from Washington State to make it that high.

You can help Lincoln Elementary win $1000 by voting online. Their video is called “Lincoln’s Journey to Real Food”.

Please get the word out and send on the link so everyone you know can vote. Here is the link:

http://www.farmtoschool.org/vote.php (you can only vote once per computer)

 

You can view the video at

http://video.farmtoschool.org/video/53/lincolns-journey-to-real-food

or here:

Posted by Elliot on April 6th, 2010

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Make sure your favorite CSA farm is listed

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Cascade Harvest Coalition is updating its Puget Sound Fresh CSA Directory and they’re asking local CSA’s to fill out their survey by Tuesday April 6 at 12PM. The guide reaches tens of thousands of Puget Sound consumers and is a great – FREE – way to pick up new members.

Take the survey

Posted by Elliot on April 1st, 2010

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Washington State Department of Corrections seeks local farm vendors for Monroe and Aberdeen facilities

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Washington State Department of Corrections has embraced the challenge to improve sustainability in its facilities. Several prisons already have inmate garden programs. To build on this effort, they are launching a local produce purchasing pilot program at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen and Monroe Correctional Facility in Monroe for the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. These facilities are calling for farms to participate as direct market vendors in the program. The Monroe and Stafford Creek facilities each have programs for inmate food processing and preparation. Farms will be encouraged to sell produce in a field-packed, unprocessed state in order to keep costs low and optimize the benefits to both buyer and seller.

Posted by Elliot on March 31st, 2010

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New report recommends ways to strengthen farmers markets and bolster rural areas

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King County’s flourishing farmers markets offer a great selection of tasty and nutritious food while providing a boost to local farmers. A new report includes several recommendations to help ensure the stability of farmers markets well into the future.

“The growing popularity of farmers markets across King County is a very positive development, but we can’t take them for granted and must continue to explore new ways of supporting them,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Farmers markets are the best place for people to find out how tasty and fresh locally-grown food can be, and to support our rural economy.

“By strengthening farmers markets across the county, we not only improve the future of farming here, but also bolster the small businesses that form the fabric of our communities,” he added.

Among the recommendations in the King County Farmers Market Report are:

Posted by Elliot on March 22nd, 2010

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Cold Storage Facilities Now Eligible For USDA Facility Loan Program

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WASHINGTON, March 17, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said that the Farm Storage Facility Loan program has been amended to allow producers to build cold storage facilities to store their fresh fruits and vegetables. This program is part of USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative and uses discretionary authority provided by the 2008 Farm Bill authorizing the eligibility of cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables.

“Expand the Farm Storage Facility Loan program will provide our nation’s fruit and vegetable producers with new storage and marketing opportunities,” Vilsack said. “On-farm storage may cost a lot to build, but it can help farmers to maximize profits. USDA’s program will help these producers to finance the purchase, construction, or refurbishment of these important farm storage facilities.”

Posted by Elliot on March 18th, 2010

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