Tag Archives: farming

Kingston farm named finalist for $20k prize

A Kingston cattle farm is the last Kitsap company left in the running for the $20,000 edg3 FUND small business prize.

Silver Creek Angus was one of five finalists Kitsap Bank announced for the prize last week.

The longtime family farm raises Black Angus cattle and sells beef. You can learn more about their operation in the video above.

The edg3 FUND competition, now in its third year, promotes entrepreneurs “dedicated to growing our local community economically, socially and environmentally.”

This year’s $20,000 winner will be selected by a panel of judges during a live event Nov. 17 at Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton.

An additional $5,000 will be awarded to the entrant that best embodies “the spirit of community.”

Monday tour will connect local food producers and buyers

Tad Sooter

Local Buying Tour & Meetup - OlyKit — Click to see full flyer

The state Department of Agriculture will host a tour in Kitsap and Jefferson counties Monday with the aim of uniting local food producers and food buyers.

The tour bus will visit at farms, a grocery store, restaurants, a brewery and a regional food hub. At each stop, industry professionals will discuss their experiences and offer tips for success.

“It’s an opportunity for buyers to get to know farms, but also farms to get to know the market opportunities available to them,” Raymond said.

Click on the flyer for more event information or check out this website for full details.

Haggen hosting meet-and-greet Thursday

Tad Sooter

Haggen’s first two Kitsap County grocery stores have been up and running for about 10 days now.

In an effort to get to know their new neighborhood better, Haggen representatives are hosting a community meeting Thursday in Port Orchard.

Haggen is holding these meetings in all the new markets it’s moving into this year.

According a news release, Haggen wants to hear from small farmers and producers interested in selling wares in the stores, nonprofits interested in Haggen’s charitable work, and small businesses interested in co-marketing campaigns, as well as community members.

The meeting is scheduled for 5-6 p.m. Thursday at the Port Orchard Pavilion, 701 SW Bay Street.

Haggen is taking over 146 former Albertsons and Safeway locations this year, including three in Kitsap County.

The Bellingham-based grocery chain converted a Silverdale Albertsons and a Port Orchard Safeway to the Haggen Northwest Fresh brand on March 7. An East Bremerton Albertsons will follow in June.

A Gig Harbor Safeway became a Haggen on March 11. A community meeting is scheduled for 5-6 p.m. March 23 at The Inn at Gig Harbor, 3211 56th Street NW.

If you’ve already been shopping at the Haggen stores I would love to know what you think. Drop a comment below.

Poultry and pork classes offered for small producers

Tad Sooter

Want to propagate poultry or profit from pigs?

The Washington State University Extension is offering a good place to start. The extension will host day-long classes on chicken and pig rearing July 11 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The classes, titled Pork 100 and Poultry 100, are intended as primers for farmers interested in expanding into livestock production or refreshers for experienced producers. Each intensive class is eight hours.

WSU instructors will also teach a Youth Livestock Quality Assurance course at the fairgrounds July 11. The class for young producers and 4-H participants covers all aspects of livestock production with an emphasis on meeting quality assurance standards.

Topics addressed in the classes include nutrition, management on pasture, breed selection, genetics and reproduction basics, production and marketing and health.

Courses are taught by WSU Extension meat and livestock specialists. Each course will also feature a panel of local producers discussing livestock in Washington.

Click here for information.

Meegan M. Reid photos

Island Food Circle aims to make finding local food easy

Tad Sooter

Farmers markets are the most consistent purveyors of locally grown food, and they’re flourishing in Kitsap.

Local produce is also cropping up in restaurants and grocery stores. A new initiative on Bainbridge Island aims to make local food as easy to find on weekdays as it is on Saturday mornings.

Island Food Circle, a project of Sound Food, has created an online guide to local food sellers on and around Bainbridge. The list is broken down by category (veggies, meat, dairy, etc.) each with a list of sources.

Food Circle is also distributing window decals to the sellers so shoppers spot them on the street.

The initial group of 18 stores, farm stands and restaurants were nominated by island farmers. The membership list will be renewed regularly.

“It’s the farmers saying these are people who are buying local on a consistent basis,” project coordinator Carolyn Goodwin said.

The Food Circle maintains another list of local food producers it makes available to store managers and chefs.

Some types of foods, like dairy, are hard to find on Bainbridge, or even in the county, Goodwin said. For those, the Food Circle expands to include regional producers.

Goodwin said Food Circles could be organized in other communities using the same model.

“There could be a Kitsap Food Circle,” she said. “I think that would be great.”

For more on the Food Circle, see www.soundfood.org.