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Exploring Island County’s
Food System
2010
Collaborative Project Partners
Transition Whidbey
Northwest Agriculture Business Center
WSU Island County Extension
1
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Description of a Food System
Benefits of a Food System
Reasons to Proceed Respectfully
State and Regional Crops
Washington State Top Farm Products
Puget Sound Region
Puget Sound Agricultural Revenue
Island County Crops
Puget Sound Fresh
Puget Sound Food Network
Hunting, Fishing, Foraging
About the Land
Agricultural Soils
Canopy Cover
Island County’s Place in Washington State
About Our Farms
How Our Farms Use their Land
Number of Small Farms
Farmland Acres by Crop
Farms Are More than Crops
Farmland Preservation
About Our People
What is Working
Community Food Systems at Work
Farmers Markets
CSA: Community Supported Agriculture
Addressing Local Food Needs
Food Bank/Community Projects
Strengthening Local Economy Sharing Local Food
The Gaps
Appreciations
Community Resources
References
Thank Yous
Next Steps
2
Introduction
In 2007-2008 gas prices rose rapidly. The news indicated that the world’s
production of oil might have peaked. No longer were there surpluses of oil, but
rather we could expect to see a decline in the oil available to consumers,
governments, and communities in general. This would certainly have a
significant impact to life in Island County.
Considering this possible future a group of committed citizens formed Transition
Whidbey, an organization dedicated to creating pathways to a thriving self-reliant,
sustainable community. Concurrently, the Northwest Agriculture Business Center
and WSU Island County Extension were seeking to better understand how the
local food system was working and how it might be developed.
Drawn together by these concerns, a small collaborative group began to design
an approach for mapping the island’s food assets. A food systems “map” is more
than a visual list of who is growing what and where. It is a description of the
larger loop of food production, harvesting, processing, distribution, and
consumption that involves us all. It is a tool useful for increasing our awareness
of the components of our food system (including its gaps and overlaps), better
positioning us to engage in making the system increasingly resilient and
sustainable.
Because of the size and limitations of Island County and our population, we’ll
probably never grow ALL of our food here. But through the combination of our
unique land and the amazingly talented and creative people who live here, we
believe we can produce a much larger portion of our food locally. To do this we
must pay attention to how the system works and actively participate in making it
work better.
This document is just a snapshot of the context in which our food system exists.
We discovered that to truly begin to know a community, we needed to
understand the tangible assets embedded in it. Through collaborative efforts
involving many citizens of Whidbey Island, Northwest Agriculture Business
Center, and Washington State University Extension we have created this
document, representing the first phase of our food asset-mapping project.
As you read through it, you will find data from graphs and charts, other
information in the form of texts, and photos of our island taken by many people—
with several great photos by a group of students at Coupeville Middle School.
This is the first compilation of information about a complex part of our
community’s life—its relationship with food. We anticipate many individual and
collective conversations about our food system in the coming months.
We welcome and encourage your participation in our transition to increased selfreliance!
3
Description of a Food System
Other parts of our food system not specifically mentioned include the farms
where food is produced, the processing, transporting, storing and selling of food,
and the consumers who purchase and eat the food.
( Source: Food System image from http://www.joe.org/joe/2006august/a2.php
Journal of Extension Vol. 44, number 4 August 2006 ; image by K.A. Dahlberg, 1994)
We are all part of a food system. The human, agricultural food system has
changed over time and continues in transition today. The “conventional” system
of the 20th century was based on the era of industrialization in American history.
This system was based on ‘cheap’ oil, abundant water and soil availability, the
lowest price for consumers, profitability for suppliers, convenience, and economic
efficiency. In recent years industrial agriculture has begun to encounter
increasing constraints, both in the cost or availability of agricultural inputs and in
the values of consumers concerned about industrial agriculture’s negative social
and environmental impacts. Driven by a different set of values, such as
sustainability and biologic diversity, the transition to a practical and values-based
alternative has been the basis for the growth of the modern sustainable food and
agriculture industry.
4
At present, most Whidbey Islanders purchase their food in a conventional
grocery store, and most of that food travels an average of 1500-2500 miles from
the farm to the consumer’s table. As consumers demand more locally produced
food, Island County’s food system has begun to change. In addition to
conventional grocery stores, we now have five active Farmers Markets,
increasing numbers of community supported agriculture (CSA) farms, bulk
buying clubs, a new values-based producer brand (“Whidbey Island Grown”),and
a growing retail interest in meeting consumer needs.
There is growing national interest in local, regional or community-based food
systems, where foods are produced, processed, and sold within a defined
geographic region. Consumers’ interests in health and “knowing their farmer” are
creating opportunities for more fresh foods, small-scale farms, and food related
businesses--while raising questions about the economic, social, and
environmental impacts of our food system.
Benefits of a local food system
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Farmer and Farmland preservation
Stronger relationships between farmers and consumers
Stronger relationships between farmers
Diversity of crops, farming operations, and food businesses
More local fresh food available for purchase
New farmers farming
More local influence on food and agriculture policy
Increased farm gate (i.e., revenue) totals that impact local economies as
food dollars stay local.
Reasons to proceed respectfully
We believe this “map” of our system is a powerful tool, so we are trying to build it
with great intention and respect, taking care with our conversations, questions,
and communications. We want to increase our community’s awareness of what
it grows and what it eats, and we expect there will be social, cultural, political,
environmental, and economic effects of that awareness. That is why this project
has moved slowly and deliberately, with hopes that it will continue through public
conversations and an interactive map.
We hope this initial document is useful in building a community of people who are
able to see that feeding ourselves well, in harmony with the land, our
environment, and our neighbors is a core piece of a sustainable future.
5
State and Regional Crops
Washington State Top Farm Products
by dollar value of sales - 2008 data
1,000 dollars
1. Apples
2. Milk and Dairy
3. Wheat
4. Potatoes
5. Cattle & Calves
6. Hay
7. Nursery & Greenhouse Products
8. Cherries
9. Hops
10.Grapes
1,778,841
1,000,032
915,272
705,057
605,380
412,880
372,006
297,061
252,937
201,215
% of all
WA sales
21.7
12.2
11.2
8.6
7.4
5.0
4.5
3.6
3.1
2.5
cumulative %
of WA sales
21.7
34.0
45.2
53.8
61.2
66.2
70.8
74.4
77.5
80.0
( Source: USDA http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/WA.htm#TCEC )
Sarah Potts, chickens at home
Joe Menthe, Whidbey Island Winery
6
Puget Sound Region
The Northwest marine climate is uniquely supportive of vegetation and a variety
of agricultural specialty crops, as well as livestock and aquaculture. Washington
State grows over 300 varieties of crops. The Puget Sound region alone grows
more than 80 different fruits, vegetables, and seed crops. We also raise
chickens, and dairy and beef cattle.
7
The primary agricultural products in the region are milk and dairy, forage (such
as hay and animal feed), beef cattle, sheep and lambs, berries, vegetables,
nursery plants, floriculture and poultry. Island County contributes about 1.3% of
the total farm gate revenues of the Puget Sound region. (Farm gate revenues
are what the farmer actually receives from the sale of agricultural products.)
Amos Morgan, Harvesting hay at the Long Farm
Major natural resources include forests, fish and shellfish, ample rainfall much of
the year, fertile agricultural lands, extensive marine shoreline, estuaries and
numerous fresh water bodies.
Sam Landau, Penn Cove Mussels
8
$66M
$82M $57M
$91M
$325M
$104M
$154M
$235M
Total Agricultural Revenue = $1.114 Billion
All Other Ag Products = Hay, Grain, Seeds, Christmas Trees, etc.)
(Source: “County Profile’ pages, USDA Census of Agriculture 2007, for all 12 Western
Washington Counties: http://agcensus.usda.gov )
NOTE: All values rounded to nearest million; unable, within certain counties, to
allocate all revenue data to product categories due to suppression under USDA
confidentiality rules.
As you look at this chart, what’s missing?
How does natural resource stewardship play a
role?
.
‘;
9
Island County Crops
Puget Sound Fresh
Whidbey Island’s food system fits into a regional and state-wide system, all
linked together. Many regions have started working together to bring local food to
the market. Puget Sound Fresh, initiated by the Cascade Harvest Coalition in
King County, is one of the early success stories that has served as a model for
other regional place-based brands. The new Whidbey Island Grown brand,
developed in 2009, is more than a place-based brand and has added production
standards that provide additional value to products for producers and consumers
alike.
Puget Sound Fresh is a consumer education and
product identification program that educates
consumers in 12 counties about the health and
environmental benefits of buying and eating locally
grown. The Puget Sound Fresh logo symbolizes the
important contribution that local food and farms make
to the quality of life in our region.
“Puget Sound Fresh” describes any product grown, raised or harvested in one of
the 12 counties that touch Puget Sound -- Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, Kitsap,
Thurston, Pierce, King, Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom.
Cascade Harvest Coalition also produces and distributes a Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm Directory. Both can be found in PDF format
on the Puget Sound Fresh website. http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/
Puget Sound Food Network
The Puget Sound Food Network is also locally grown and was launched in 2009.
This effort is designed to build capacity in the regional 12 county food system. It
is a web-based service that connects local food producers and products to
buyers. Individual consumers can also access information on this network to find
out where local producers are located on a map and where local products are
sold. Community groups and individuals can also use this network to access
information about resources and information portals. Island County has its own
portal that may be accessed via this network. The online tool compliments the
efforts of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center’s account managers who
provide member assistance. http://www.psfn.org/
10
$374
$169
$1130
$550
$593
$842
Total Crop Revenue = $3.7 Million
$3,659
$10,684
Livestock/Animal Products includes Cattle, Aquaculture, Milk, Dairy, Horses,
Sheep, Goats, Hog, Poultry, Eggs, and Other Animals
Total IC Agricultural Revenue = $14.343 Million
(Source: Island County “Profile” USDA Census of Agricultural 2007:
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov)
NOTE: Most Livestock and Animal Product categories have a small number of
producers in Island County and are not individually reported, due to USDA
confidentiality rules.
11
1005
222
199
5615
Total IC Harvested Acreage = 7041 Acres
(Source: USDA Census of Agriculture 2007-County Level, Tables 8, 26, 27, 30, 31, 35, 36; and
Island County Profile)
In addition to these general crop categories, farms in Island County are
developing an exciting variety of “niche” crops, to include things like: lavender,
Kobe beef, grass fed beef, Rockwell beans, garlic, and more.
Hunting, Fishing, Foraging
It would be easy to assume that all of our food is produced only through
agricultural efforts. For many of us that may be true on most days, but hunting,
fishing, and foraging have always been part of Puget Sound food systems.
Historically many thousands of Native Americans prospered here before
European settlers came to Whidbey Island, with little dependence on what we
would recognize as “agricultural” techniques. Native people fished and gathered
shellfish for most of their food, with hunting and harvesting food plants as
supportive practices.
12
There was a saying, attributed to many Northwest tribes, like the Duwamish, who
lived along the river and tidelands where this picture was taken, “When the tide is
out, the table is set.”
Edward S. Curtis, Mussel Gatherer. Smithsonian Institute, http://www.si.edu
Few of us today rely upon these traditional practices to provide most of our food,
but the activities remain popular as recreation. Washington’s Department of Fish
and Wildlife issued 19,327 individual licenses to Island County residents in 2009.
While we may not depend on hunting, fishing, or gathering our own shellfish for
daily meals, many people still have some experience of seeking their own food.
Kole Kellison, Crabbing off Whidbey Island
13
About the Land
Agricultural Soils
“Prime Farmland” is a great place to grow crops, but we do not have that much of
it. In Island County, only a little over one percent of all our ground can qualify.
Prime farmland really is the best, with the soil quality, moisture, temperature, and
growing season needed to economically produce sustained high yields. The next
best category, “Farmland of Statewide Importance,” nearly makes prime
farmland, but these lands have some quality of soil fertility, available water or
other conditions that limits their productivity. Depending on the crop, these lands
may yield as highly as prime land, but they must often be managed more
carefully or intensively. Our county has twenty times as much land in this
category as we do in “prime” farmland.
14
Canopy Cover
Ratings or classifications of agricultural soils don’t consider what the land is
currently growing. Island County has much more forest land than harvest crop
land, and a measure of “canopy cover” is a way to recognize what part of the
land is covered by trees.
15
Looking at soils and canopy cover can begin to give you an idea of places that
might make a good farm site, but there are other things to consider before you
buy or lease property! For instance, the presence of wetlands, ponds, and even
seasonal streams can reduce the area appropriate for farming efforts because of
buffers and other “best management practices” (BMP’s). If you are going to need
irrigation for crops, you’ll need to make sure you can secure water rights, and
that sufficient water quantities are available. And depending on what you want to
grow, you’ll want to evaluate the microclimate of the site as these can vary wildly
across the county.
NOTE: The soils map was created from the USDA’s National Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) 2006 data; the canopy cover map from the US
Geological Survey’s 2001 National Land Cover Database (NLCD). This is the
most current information available during the time of the creation of this
document. Richard Rupp from Washington State University in Pullman,
Washington kindly created several maps for our use in this project. To view the
entire collection please go to:
Northwest Agriculture Business Center (http://www.agbizcenter.org/)
Washington State University Extension at Island County
(http://www.island.wsu.edu).
As in most counties,
development is an issue here. What could the
landscape of WI look like with some movement
toward sustainable food production.
Is there a local opinion on this?
16
ISLAND COUNTY’S PLACE
IN WASHINGTON STATE
Part of the Puget Sound lowlands, our home stretches from the edge of
“Pugetopolis” to the Pacific’s Strait of Juan de Fuca. Since Washington was first
a state, Island County has relied on its safe distance from the larger settlements
and cities of Puget Sound as it pursued its own course of change and
development. Close enough to Seattle or Everett to rely on them as sources for
some goods, and as markets for some of our products, we’re also far enough
away to maintain different patterns of life and landscape.
Historically, in making its living Island County has relied on this location, its
natural resources, and its people’s willingness to use them. Now, as the 20
century has ended, wetlands are no longer diked and drained for hayfields, and
few shoreline locations for new residential development remain. Opportunities of
location and natural resources are now more often thought of as attractions for
tourism than as the basis of the shipbuilding, forestry and fishing industries that
had once been the core of the region’s economy.
th
Island County still has hundreds of small farms. However, it has become more
difficult to make a living from a farm in recent years, and for most of us it is
difficult to see the direct contribution of these local farms to our daily life.
Whidbey and Camano Islands are physically separated, and the length of
Whidbey adds to the distance between one set of Islanders and another.
Many of our largest farms currently produce for commercial/commodity markets.
But increasingly farmers have begun to create their own markets through CSAs,
Farmers’ Markets and other direct sales. Good Cheer Food Bank’s community
garden may prove to be another model for “growing our own” produce.
In the years to come, Island County needs to answer the following questions:
How can small acreage farms find reliable markets and methods to make a
sustainable living from the land? How can we maintain our best agricultural land
for agricultural production? How can large farms find an effective way to produce
for a local and personal market? How can the backyard and community gardens
throughout the county become a more significant part of our food system? All of
these questions and answers are part of our local food system’s opportunities
and challenges.
17
About Our Farms
How Our Farms Use Their Land
Local farms sell produce to local stores and farmers’ markets, but a surprisingly
small part of our county’s landscape is devoted to the fruits and vegetables you
may think of when you think “Farm.” Island County’s farms typically have wooded
land and pasture as well as land devoted to crops for harvest, and in addition to
pasture land, almost two thirds of our county’s cropland is used to provide feed
for livestock.
The Whidbey Island Conservation District is dedicated to assisting landowners
on small and large acreages to meet their objectives while effectively managing
the natural resources on their land. Whidbey Island Conservation District
provides no-cost technical assistance and a farm planning service to landowners
and farmers who are interested in developing their property for further agricultural
growth. The Conservation District helps identify the best management practices
for an owner’s property by outlining a farm plan that is mindful to the natural
resources and water quality of the environment. For further information on this
service visit the Conservation District’s webpage,
(http://whidbeyislandconservationdistrict.farming.officelive.com/default.aspx)
Karen Bishop, Farm Planning Program
18
Island County Farms comprise 17,699 acres of land:
Cropland 48.3%
Cropland 8,557 Acres
Hay and Silage 65.6%
Other Crops 2,964 Acres
Commercial Grain
(Barley & Wheat)
33.9%
Unharvested 51.9%
Other Crops 34.7%
Vegetables,
Fruits
7.5%
Nonfood
Crops
6.7%
(Source: USDA Census of Agriculture 2007-County Level, Tables 8, 26, 27, 30, 31, 35, 36; and
Island County Profile)
19
Number of Small Farms
Number of Farms by Size
(Source: USDA Census of Agriculture 2007, Table 1, and Island County Profile
Amos Morgan, Wilbur and Karen Bishop, Whidbey Island Farmers
The 458 farms in our county tend to be small, averaging 39 acres, and only two
have 500 acres or more. But when viewed as part of the local economy larger
farms are clearly important.
In 2007 our nine largest farms each had $500,000 or more in sales, and had
72.4% of all agricultural product sales in Island County. That same year two
thirds of our farms (306 of 458) had less than $5,000 in sales.
20
Farmland Acres by Crop
(Sources: USDA Census of Agriculture 2007, Tables 8, 26, 27, 30, 35, 36; and County Profile;
US Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/popest/counties)
21
Farms are more than crops
Looking at a photo of a farm, we can see the farm house, the barn and
outbuildings, fencing and the land. However, there is much more to the picture
than meets the eye. What’s hidden from our sight?
Maryon Attwood, Dale Sherman’s Farm
First, we need to understand that the farmer does not plant or harvest 100% of
his/her fields every year. Soil needs to be rested between yields, so each year
some fields on the farm may be left ‘fallow’. Fallow land has been plowed or
“worked” but left unseeded. Cover crops may be used to improve the soil, and
often animals are grazed on this land before it is re-planted.
This does not mean that this land - that may appear to be unused - is serving no
purpose. In fact, these fallow and cover-cropped fields play a critical part in
farmland rotation necessary for sustainability and maintaining high crop yields.
In the 1940’s WSU Island County Extension observed that sustainable farms on
Whidbey Island were at least 40 acres. Other data collected during that same
time by WSU recorded 54,666 acres in farmland and 20,516 in crops, which
helps us imagine how farmers were using crop rotation, woodlots, and pasture
land.
In 2007, according to USDA data, 51.9 % of Island County’s non-forage
“cropland” was “Unharvested.” Most of that land was grazed instead of
harvested, fallowed, or cover cropped. Additionally, not all crops planted are
100% successful. Weather and pests play a part in crop yields, and some years
a farmer might lose a whole crop from lack of rain, hail or wind damage. The
farmer takes this potential for success and failure into account when deciding
what and how much to plant each year.
22
Also missing from our picture are: electricity needed, equipment, feed for
animals, roads, fuel for machinery, services required, insurance, supplies,
maintenance on buildings, permit or license fees, health care costs, and local
and federal taxes. These infrastructure costs and the risks of agricultural
production are born primarily by the farmer/producer.
Amos Morgan, Leland Long and family – Generation to Generation
The community and the environment benefit from the farmer’s investments and
hard work. Agricultural businesses tend to be passed down from one generation
to another, providing economic stability to a community, providing an inflow of
dollars – year in, year out – from the sale of agricultural products. So we can
begin to see that when farms are built around local suppliers and local markets
for their products, the business of agriculture becomes a foundation of local
economies
23
FARMLAND PRESERVATION
"If agriculture is going to be a vital part of a community, then it's vitally important
that a critical mass of farmland be permanently protected," says Ralph Grossi,
president of the American Farmland Trust (AFT), which works to preserve the
nation's farmland.
Ebey's Landing is the first National Historical Reserve, created in 1978 to
protect a rural working landscape and community on Whidbey Island in
Washington State. Throughout its 17,572 acres, the Reserve integrates
historic farms, a seaside town, native and pioneer land use traditions and
ecologically significant areas. A Trust Board manages this National Park
unit through creative conservation and contemporary planned development by design 85% of the Reserve is privately owned. The soils of Ebey's and
Crockett Prairie are among the most fertile in Island County, and local
roads connecting farms bear the names of pioneer families - some over five
generations in residence and still farming. The people and partners of
Ebey's Reserve are leading by example, sustaining America's rural heritage
and farming while accommodating change. (For more information on Ebey’s
Reserve: http://www.nps.gov/ebla/)
Mitch Richards, Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve
24
American agriculture is an industry of great value. Unfortunately, the land that
supports this valuable industry faces increasing pressure from suburban growth
and second-home development. Nationally, lands under the most imminent
threat of development produce 79 percent of the nation's fruit, 69 percent of its
vegetables, 52 percent of its dairy products, 28 percent of its meat, and 27
percent of its grain. AFT (American Farmland Trust) estimates that if present
trends continue, by 2050 farmers and ranchers could be required to produce food
for 50 percent more Americans on 13% less land, and that the nation might
eventually become a net food importer.
Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, Reuble Barn
As in most counties,
development is an issue here. What could
the landscape of WI look like with some
movement toward sustainable food
production.
What opinions do you have about this?
25
About Our People
Population
2008 Totals
% Growth
2000-2008
Island County :
81,424
Washington State: 6,549,224
King County
: 1,875,519
13.8%
11.1%
8.0%
Washington State
King County
Island County
2000
2008
Location
Island County
King County
Washington
State
Median
Age
39.2
38.1
%
White
88.2
73.2
36.8
80.5
% >65
17.7
10.6
%
Foreign
Born
6.7
19
% w/
BA
27.2
43.7
% in
Poverty
8.3
9.8
11.6
12.2
30
11.8
(Source: US Census, http://www.factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html;
http://www.census.gov/popest/counties)
While recent population growth has slowed, as part of the Puget Sound lowlands
Island County faces increased population impacts as part of a growing region.
Island County residents tend to be older than the Washington state average, and
less likely to have poverty level incomes. We are also less likely to have a
college degree and more likely to be white.
*Currently available economic data not reflective of the economic climate after 2007.
26
INTERESTING FACT TIDBITS
Island County is the 5th most densely populated of the 39
counties in the state.
Although it is the next to the smallest county in the state
(approximately 208 sq. miles of land), Island County is
ranked 14th in overall population of the 39 counties.
The population of people 65 and older increased by 41%
since the year 2000, the 6th highest increase among the 39
counties in the state.
The increase in the number of residential housing units in
Island County since 2000 exceeded the state average by
36%.
( source: http://www.islandcounty.net/Assessor
data from “Population Trends 2008”, Washington Office of Financial Management,
http://www.ofm.wa.gov )
You cannot
separate food
from
people…what
meaning comes
from information
like this? What
are the
implications to
policy, planning
and community
development, and
farming?
Aimie Vallat, fresh picked radishes
27
What’s Working
Community Food Systems at Work
The goal behind bolstering our Island County Food System is about more than
producing local food. When local agriculture’s markets and suppliers are closer to
home it helps produce a strong local community. Each time a dollar within the
agricultural economy is earned or spent near to the farm it contributes to what is
known as the “local multiplier effect.”
Mary Leonard, Island Tree Ranch
Valerie Reuther, Linda Bartlett at Rosehip Farm
Judy Feldman, Lavendar Wind Farm
28
Whidbey Island County producers, responding to increased interest in ‘locally
grown’ products, initiated the development of a value-added local agricultural
brand and logo “Whidbey Island Grown” brand and logo that was launched in the
fall of 2009.
This program is intended to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Preserve farmland and increase agricultural production
Increase consumption and sales of WI grown agricultural products
Promote emotional connections to Whidbey Island
Be as inclusive as possible while promoting sustainable practices,
including biodiversity, stewardship and low input farming
Promote farming and farm businesses
Provide consumer and producer education
Honor farmers by elevating the perception of farming in the minds and
attitudes of neighbors, the community, and policy-makers through
education and events
Promote locally grown products that consistently deliver a positive
functional benefit
Always seek to add value to agricultural products grown on Whidbey
Island
The “Whidbey Island Grown Brand” is also much more than a regional placebased brand. It has production standards established by Whidbey Island
producers which will add value and quality assurances for consumers. These
standards are reflected in a producer self-assessment form required of all
producers.
Agricultural production and a rich farm heritage play a significant role in creating
the rural setting and lifestyle enjoyed by residents and visitors to Whidbey Island.
The purpose of this cooperative promotions program is to increase awareness of
local agricultural products among residents and visitors, improve distribution of
those products and thereby increase demand and consumption. The expected
outcomes of these local efforts will support a growing Whidbey Island food
system.
The Whidbey Island Grown Brand is funded by agricultural producers,
distributors and members of the community whose goal is to preserve the
distinctive nature of Whidbey Island for future generations.
For more information about the Whidbey Island Grown brand contact:
(http://whidbeyislandgrown.org).
29
Farmers Markets
Bill Phillips, Bayview Farmers Market sign
Rising demand for local food in Island County reflects national demands for local
food. Farmers Markets on Whidbey Island reported reaching a total of $516,903
via direct sales to consumers in 2008. To quote one farmer, the markets are
great because they encourage “more local farmers to offer local food, which
makes the markets more successful, which in turn drives the local demand for
that same healthy, delicious food in our grocery store aisles and restaurant
tables!”
The following are Farmers Markets enjoyed by Whidbey Islanders:
Bayview Farmers Market
http://www.bayviewfarmersmarket.com/
Located at historic Bayview Corner - the new town square of South Whidbey.
Our market runs from late April through the end of October every Saturday,
rain or shine, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Market Manager, Sharon Warwick, [email protected]
SR 525 & Bayview Rd
(360) 321-4302
30
Coupeville Farmers Market
http://www.coupevillefarmersmarket.com
Located at the heart of beautiful Whidbey Island, the Coupeville Farmers Market
is in it's 29th year as a farmers market and offers a wide variety of local produce,
plants, as well as tasty treats, such as homemade chocolates and fresh local
honey. We also feature local artisans and crafters and hot food vendors. We are
a friendly, community centered market were friends meet and shop for local
products, share a meal together, and listen to a bit of music. WIC.
Saturdays, 10 am. to 2 pm, April 4 thru October 31, when we close with Harvest
Fest. Located at Alexander and 8th Street (behind the library.) Contact Market
Manager Peg Tennant by email or call (360) 678-4288.
Greenbank Farm Sunday Market
Located at the historic Greenbank Farm, look for banners welcoming you to the
market at the narrowest point of Whidbey Island. Organic produce, honey, art
and crafts of all kinds. Hot food and coffee.
Markets held on Sundays, 10 am til 3 pm, April 6 thru October 26. For more
information and vendor sign-up applications, contact Issy, Market Manager by
email or call (360) 678-7710 .
Oak Harbor's Thursday Market
Opens May 21 and will continue every Thursday through September 24, from 4
pm to 7 pm. It is located on State Route 20 next to the Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Information Center. WIC.
Contact Market Manager Peg Tennant by email or call (360) 675-0472.
South Whidbey Tilth Farmers' Market
http://www.southwhidbeytilth.org
South Whidbey Tilth Farmers' Market will be open each Saturday starting May
1st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thompson Road and Hwy 525. There will be music,
handmade crafts, cooked foods and organic produce available; you can tour the
experimental gardens and forest restoration projects; the WSU Master
Gardeners will have plant clinics; WasteWise will present information on
recycling and conservation, and there will be special activities for children. EBT,
WIC.
Saturdays, 10 am til 2 pm, May 1 thru October 9. Vendors interested in selling at
the market may email us or contact Tilth President, Anza Muenchow at 360-5792890 or [email protected].
Brindle’s Market - Uncommon Market
Saturdays from 10 to 4 during the season
In the commons at the center of the buildings at Terry’s Corner, off SR 532,
Camano Island
Bonnie Brindle at Brindle’s Market: 360-722-7480
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CSA: C ommunity Supported Agriculture
Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a
popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer.
Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public.
Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables. Interested consumers
purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive
a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming
season which may be 18 or 20 weeks or longer. This arrangement creates
several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer.
Advantages for farmers:
! Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16
hour days in the field begin
! Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash
flow
! Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
! Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
! Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
! Get to visit the farm at least once a season
! Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've
never been known to eat
! Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn
more about how food is grown
The core concept woven into the CSA model is the notion of shared risk. This
idea is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and
between members and the farmers. Most CSA farmers feel a great sense of
responsibility to their members.
The idea of a CSA is simple, and its impact has been profound. Tens of
thousands of families have joined CSAs across the United States, and in some
areas of the country – like Whidbey Island - there is more demand than there are
CSA farms to fill it.
We have from eight to ten CSA’s on Whidbey Island. These are located in central
and south Whidbey.
Where do you as an individual fit
into what we have looked at so
far?
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Quail's Run Farm, (http://quailsrunfarm.com/aboutus.aspx)
Patty and Loren Imes own and operate Quail's Run Farm, a 38 acre farm
overlooking the Maxwelton Valley in Clinton. Their specialty is growing
vegetables, featuring the best tasting heirloom and open-pollinated varieties.
They operate a 30 member CSA, providing a wide range of vegetables, including
many varieties of lettuce, spinach, peas, carrots, beets, onions, sweet corn,
beans, our "famous" baby squash mix and much more. They also sell eggs, and
pasture raised pork and grass-fed Black Angus beef by the quarter from their
farm. Patty grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin and Loren worked in
the high-tech industry. They have been farming and feeding people on Whidbey
Island since 1999.
Bill Phillips, Loren Imes selling produce at the Bayview Farmers Market
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The Organic Market
Whidbey Island has a long tradition of small organic farms, especially at the
south end of the Island where South Whidbey Tilth organization was founded.
Some local farmers are transitioning to organic farming and many, who do not
have the certified label, are using organic growing methods without costly
certification. Currently, local organic farmers can be found at farm stands,
Farmers Markets, and Community Supported Agriculture membership programs,
as well as offering their products to local restaurants and grocery stores.
The United States Department of Agriculture conducted its first wide-scale survey
of organic producers in 2008 with results reported from 14,540 farms.
Nationwide, 2008 organic sales totaled $3.16 billion, including $1.94 billion in
crop sales and $1.22 billion in sales of livestock, poultry and their products. Most
organic producer sold their products locally, with 44% of sales taking place less
than 100 miles from the farm. Nearly 83 % of organic sales were made to
wholesale channels; just over 10% of sales were direct to retail; and only 7% of
sales were made directly to consumers. Over 78% of the responding farmers
indicated that they plan to maintain or increase their organic production over the
next five years. (survey available at:
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Organics/. )
ADDRESSING LOCAL FOOD NEEDS
FOOD BANKS/COMMUNITY PROJECTS: The food banks provide food to
people who have limited access to fresh local food, such as seniors on a fixed
budget and working families whose finances do not cover their food needs.
There are several food banks that provide food for the people of Island County.
One organization, Good Cheer, has received attention across the country for
creating a model that helps to meet the food needs of the community. For
instance, they have provided food for over 5000 people per year, and about 750
families a month. Should a disaster occur Good Cheer could feed thousands
of people. And, they have created a garden in front of their store, primarily run
by a volunteer staff, that grows fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cary Peterson, Good Cheer Garden
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Others addressing the social issues associated with food in our community
include:
Coupeville Middle School Greenhouse/Food Bank Project
(http:///ww.coupevilleartsandcraftsfestival.org/coupeville-community-projectgrants.cfm)
Coupeville Pea Patch
(http://www.portofcoupeville.org/comp/app-e-5.html)
Gifts From The Heart
(http://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=1448316)
Good Cheer Garden
(http://www.goodcheergarden.wordpress.com/)
Greenbank Farm Pea Patch
(http://www.greenbankfarm.com/banquet.html)
Help House
(http://www.mybaseguide.com/navy/whidbey-island/resources.aspx)
Langley Middle School Garden
(http://www.lmscommunitygarden.wordpress.com)
Lord’s Garden
(http://www.whidbeyfarmtour.wordpress.com
Stanwood/Camano Island Food Bank
(http://www.camanoisland.net)
Tilth Pea Patch
(http://www.southwhidbeytilth.org)
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The Gaps
So far in this document, we’ve looked at the land we have, what we grow as a
state, region, and county, and our human population. And we’ve described our
farmers markets, our Whidbey Island Grown brand, and our CSA’s. Can you
begin to see what’s missing?
According to the USDA, Island County generates over $335,000 in livestock
revenue. Yet we have no significant meat processing capacity. In 2010, the
Northwest Agriculture Business Center was successful in making a mobile
processing unit available for a limited number of local producers – but before the
first animal was processed, there was a waiting list for access to the unit.
We also generate over $2 million in sales of fruits and vegetables. Certainly,
much of this is currently directed to the commodity markets, but not all of it. But in
order to create “value added products,” products using locally grown foods to
make processed goods that increase income for the growers, commercial
kitchens must be available. At this time, the number of such facilities that are
open to the public for use is extremely limited. [ For more information concerning
commercial kitchens, go to http://www.island.wsu.edu .]
As wonderful as our farmers markets are, they are but one “piece of the pie”
according to a local farmer. They require the farmers to take time away from
farming to harvest, clean, price, and transport their goods to the market location
in hopes that the public will “buy them out” for the day. There are other pieces of
that “pie” that are equally important,
such as direct sales off the farm, and
sales to grocers and restaurants.
Our restaurants and cafeterias are
keen on serving locally grown foods to
a community eager to support our
farmers, but they need predictable,
consistent quantities, and they don’t
have time to coordinate sales with
multiple farmers. The same is true for
our grocery stores. Neither do farmers
have time to make the rounds up and
down the island, looking for buyers.
Willa Kveta, Chef Jess Dowdell at Mukilteo
Coffee serving a locally sourced menu
36
What this seems to point to is our own local need for a better developed
distribution network—one built around locally grown foods that would, for a
reasonable fee, offer a service that could benefit all of us (grower, buyer,
distributor, and consumer).
In these roles, all of us are working on this puzzle, as we change our eating
habits and marketing patterns, gradually forming a shared vision of what we want
to see. But “making it work” is a challenge: what comes first—the local chickens
or the delivery van that takes the eggs to the school cafeteria?
Are these things possible for Island County? Historically, they existed here. We
used to have productive chicken and turkey farms. Orchards and field crops grew
alongside a wide variety of vegetables suited for our maritime climate. In addition
to producers, there were butchers and canneries and facilities to handle fish,
fruit, vegetables, and seed production. These agricultural businesses were
supported by local grocery stores and markets that purchased their products.
Local repair and machine shops on the island serviced farm equipment. Local
butchers slaughtered and processed meat for local customers, and meat lockers
stored the meat until families picked it up for use.
There are gaps in today’s system, but they are not insurmountable. It would
seem that we could return to such an economically vibrant food landscape,
building that local multiplier effect we spoke of earlier – provided that we, as local
consumers, are willing and able to support the move to “eat local.” Farmers will
produce more, and we will produce more farmers, if there is a market that makes
farming financially viable.
Can you think of any
hurdles that farmers face
in planting for local
consumers?
What about those faced
by grocers and restaurant
owners in terms of
managing inventory and
quality control?
What are the
opportunities associated
Maryon Attwood, 3 Sisters Beef Farm
with these challenges?
37
Mobile Processing Unit Story
According to John Ikerd, an agricultural economist and Professor Emeritus from
the University of Missouri, “Nowhere are the uncertainties, risks, and lack of
sustainability more evident or more important than in our systems of food
production…It takes people, not just production, to support rural communities– to
buy feed, fuel, clothes, and haircuts on Main Street, to support local schools,
churches, and local public services. There are no purely economic incentives to
protect rural culture or to mend the torn fabric of rural society. Industrial
agriculture is not socially sustainable.”
Nowhere have these facts had more impact than on the processing of our fresh
foods and meats.
Processing businesses of all kinds have disappeared throughout Washington
over the past 20 years and in places like Island County --- they no longer exist.
Re-establishing agricultural infrastructure is a first step in restoring a local food
system for Island County producers and consumers.
In Washington, animals slaughtered and processed by Washington State
Department of Agriculture (WSDA)-licensed facilities are limited to “the sole
consumption of the owner,” and may not be re-sold in direct markets or
wholesale markets (e.g., grocery stores or
restaurants). The WSDA records 150
businesses that hold 197 WSDA Custom meat
processing licenses. Producers who wish to
sell meat by the pound or to retail sellers must
have the animals slaughtered and processed
in a USDA-inspected facility.
This 2008 map from the WSDA shows there
were only 12 USDA approved Slaughter
facilities in all of Washington State. (Keizer Meats (13) in Lynden, WA was added
to this list in 2009 as a both a USDA slaughter and processing site.)
Even the small number of existing USDA-inspected facilities in Washington
overstates the availability of USDA processing for independent farmers.
Local producers have been voicing concerns regarding lack of processing
options in Island County for years as processing facilities closed or moved away.
Not until a producer steering committee formed in 2007, was any progress taken
toward finding solutions to shrinking processing options that would afford local
producers financial sustainability. Determining the market and local capacity for
production required the Whidbey Island Meat Processing Steering Committee,
made up of local producers, to understand the livestock producer community in
Island County. No one organization had the data about livestock producers in
Island County that was needed to move forward with processing options.
38
The committee took steps to: (1) identify the livestock producers beyond the
steering committee; (2) identify the numbers and kinds of livestock produced via
surveys; and (3) develop a sense of the production capacity for the future and
interest in USDA processing.
The Whidbey Island Meat Processing Steering Committee compiled the first list
of producers and developed two producer surveys. These surveys identified
over 90 producers of beef, hogs, sheep and chickens in 2008. The total number
of animals from 60 surveys reported was 2251 animals with a capacity for 2407
on 2224.5 current acres.
Maryon Attwood, Goose Community Grocer event
Based on this information, a small group of producers agreed to be a part of a
model fresh beef program, bringing local meat from the farm to the market in
2010. This plan delivering one “cattle-pack per week” was made possible with the
help of a local funder, a USDA mobile processing unit, a USDA processor in
Bow, a distributor, a retail grocery store, and a non-profit facilitator. The Whidbey
Island Pasture Raised Beef logo took advantage of the hard work of the
producers who had already established a value-added brand for Whidbey Island
agriculture (http://www.whidbeyislandgrown.com/).
Photo Above: Leland Long, Doug Wirth, Scotty Stevens, Steve Seppa, (Missing
Don Sherman)
39
Appreciations
Community Resources
While this is only the beginning of a complete Food System Asset Map, it
required quite a bit of research to get to this point. Some of the resources that
proved invaluable to the effort include:
Northwest Agriculture Business Center, (http://www.agbizcenter.org/)
Sustainable Seattle, (http://sustainableseattle.org/)
Washington State University Extension, (http://ext.wsu.edu/)
WSU Small Farms Team, (http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/)
Whidbey Island Conservation District,
(http://whidbeyislandconservationdistrict.farming.officelive.com/default.aspx)
South Whidbey Tilth, (http://www.southwhidbeytilth.org/)
Washington State Farmers’ Association, (http://www.wafarmersmarkets.com/)
WSU Chelan County Extension, (http://www.ncw.wsu.edu/)
Island County Government, (http://www.islandcounty.net/)
Puget Sound Food Network, (http://www.psfn.org/)
Transition Whidbey, (http://www.transitionwhidbey.org/)
Other Sites of Interest
Envisioning a Sustainable Food System in California
(http://www.vividpicture.net/)
Family Farm Tour (http://www.whidbeyfarmtour.wordpress.com)
Slow Food Whidbey Island (Barbara Graham, Chair, [email protected])
Snohomish County Conservation District (http://www.snohomishcd.org)
Sustainable Whidbey Coalition (http://sustainablewhidbey.blogspot.com/)
Whidbey Island/Camano Island Land Trust (http://www.wclt.org/)
Whidbey Island Farm Tour (http://www.whidbeyfarmtour.wordpress.com)
Whidbey Island Parks
(http://www.visitwhidbey.com/information/Whidbey-Island-Parks.html)
Methodology
In research for this description of our community we sought public data sources
that could provide reliable background information. During the report's
preparation we relied most heavily on information from two federal government
agencies: the Department of Agriculture, and the Census Bureau. Here are the
particular reports we relied upon, along with links to agency websites.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Census of Agriculture 2007, issued February 2009
Volume 1, Part 47 -- Washington State
County level data tables
40
These data tables can be downloaded as a 5.2 MB .pdf file. Within our report
information from this source may be cited by Table number within that document.
All the information from the Census of Agriculture can be accessed through this
URL: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/
U.S. Census Bureau
In addition to the general Census of Population conducted every ten years, the
Census Bureau conducts surveys of people and economic activity every year.
We have taken data from the Bureau's 2008 Population Estimates, and from
its 2007 American Community Survey of community demographics, in addition
to the 2000 Census of Population. These data sources can be accessed through
these Census Bureau URLs:
http://www.census.gov/popest/counties
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Additionally, we appreciate the staff of a Washington state agency, the
Department of Fish and WIldlife, for their response to our inquiry concerning
current levels of hunting and fishing within Island County. Thank you -- Russell
Link, Thomas Owens, Justin McCarron.
References
U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov)
United States Department of Agriculture
(http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome)
Island County (http://www.islandcounty.net)
Economic Development Council
(http://www.islandcountyeconomicdevelopmentcouncil.net/)
American Farmland Trust (http://www.farmland.org)
Washington State University Pullman (http://www.wsu.edu)
THANK YOU
A big thank-you to Coupeville Middle School and the 8th grade students who
provided images of farms in Central Whidbey for a Food System project in 2009.
A special thanks goes out to science teacher Terry Welch, who helped design
and implement this student project with support from the other eighth grade staff,
Linsley Dix and Janie Rosenkrance. Student photographers Sam Landau, Kole
Kellison and Sarah Potts provided photographs for this brochure. Additional
photos taken by; Maryon Atwood, Karen Bishop, Ebey’s Landing National
Historic Reserve, Judy Feldman, Willa Kveta, Joe Menthe, Amos Morgan, Cary
Peterson, Bill Phillips, Valerie Reuther, Mitch Richards and Aimie Vallat.
41
SPECIAL THANKS
The following individuals were invaluable in their support of this document
3 Sisters Beef, http://www.3sistersbeef.com/
Karen & Wilbur Bishop, farmers. K.Bishop, Whibey Island Conservation District,
http://whidbeyislandconservationdistrict.farming.officelive.com/default.aspx
Linda Bartlett, Rosehip Farms, [email protected]
Jess Dowdell, Chef at Mukilteo Coffee, http://www.mukilteocoffee.com/
Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, http://www.nps.gov/ebla
Loren & Patty Imes, Quail Run Farms, http://quailsrunfarm.com/aboutus.aspx
Mary & Larry Leonard, Island Tree Ranch, http://www.islandtreeranch.com/
Leland Long & family, http://www.joelongfamilyfarm.com/ourfamily.html
Lavender Wind Farm, http://www.lavenderwind.com/
Judy Lynn, former volunteer with Food System Mapping
Amos Morgan, photographer, http://www.amosmorgan.com/
Emi Morgan, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Ebey’s Landing National
Historic Reserve, http://www.nps.gov/ebla
Matt Nash, Ecologist, Island County Public Works, http://www.islandcounty.net/
Gregory & Elizabeth Osenbach, Whidbey Island Winery,
http://www.whidbeyislandwinery.com/
Richard Rupp, WSU Information Systems Coordinator, Crop and Soil Science,
http://afs.wsu.edu/faculty.htm
Smithsonian Institute, use of Edward S. Curtis photo, http://www.si.edu
Ron Ward, Co-Founder, Whidbey Community eXchange,
http://www.whidbeycx.com/
Britt Walker, Co-founder & Former Director, Transition Whidbey,
(http://www.transitionwhidbey.org/)
42
REPORT CREATED BY THE FOOD SYSTEMS COMMITTEE OF
TRANSITION WHIDBEY:
Judy Feldman, Aimie Vallat, Maryon Attwood, Karyn Lazarus and John Lee
(from left to right)
Next Steps
Now that we’ve pulled together a general overview of the foundation of a food
system, we look forward to Phase II of the project. During that phase, we will
announce the existence of this document to the community through an article in
the three local newspapers of Island County. The article will include links and an
invitation to speak to and engage groups, organizations, schools, etc. about what
we’ve learned and what this information means to them. We also hope to work
with organizations like the Whidbey Island Conservation District as they develop
agricultural plans for Island County. Finally, a discussion guide will be developed
and made available to the community in mid-August so they can hold their own
discussions.
The original design team is interested in staying involved with this work, but we
are looking for a team of people to take it over. If you are interested, please
contact either Carol Flax, coordinator of Transition Whidbey
([email protected]) or Karyn Lazarus ([email protected]). There is
still much work that can be done. Please consider being a part of increasing
Island County’s food resiliency.
43