The SW WA Growers Cooperative and Food Hub will provide a multi-farm produce box over 10 weeks from Jan. 18 through March 22.
A number of regional farms have combined forces to offer the multi-farm produce boxes through the SW Washington Food Hub, which is a farmer-owned cooperative.
“These boxes aggregate produce from multiple farms,” WSU Extension Agricultural Specialist Stephen Bramwell said. “This time of year, it can be difficult for everyone to have all of their produce on hand. No one farm has everything.”
The Thurston Economic Development Council, WSU Extension of Thurston County, and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center support producers with grants, infrastructure investments and community outreach.
“Some crops are in storage on the farm, and some produce that is hearty for the winter months is being harvested and distributed,” Bramwell said. “With it being wet and cold this time of year, farmers have to be mindful of what’s in the ground, but we’re blessed in Western Washington with mild temperatures.”
The farmer co-op mainly serves Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties.
Five Hearts Farm, Bee Organic Farm, Newaukum Valley Farm, Kirsop Farm, King Fisher Farm, and Rising River Farm, among others, will provide the local produce. At the same time, the co-op will use Puyallup’s Four Elements Farm for additional food.
The winter 2023 multi-farm produce box will include a diversity of hearty winter crops like winter squash, cabbage, carrots, root vegetables, leeks, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, shallots, potatoes, herbs and greens. The co-op will send newsletters highlighting local farms and recipes.
“What is unique right now and fun to work on is that the co-op will deliver these boxes to drop sites of partner businesses,” Bramwell said. “This means they can (do) cross-marketing, and it is a collaboration between food hub farmers and local businesses in town.”
The multi-farm produce boxes are available to anyone.
Each box will have seven to 10 different items. Farms will submit a new list to the co-op of the items on hand, and a box will use produce equally from farms in the co-op. Co-op staff will ensure it’s balanced with greens, specific veggies, starches, and some exciting items to try.
“Why not have a coffee, cider, beer, and locally made enchilada when you pick up your box, and while you’re at it, have a grounding in-person conversation with an actual person?” The SW WA Growers Cooperative stated in a news release. “Good food, local business activity, and being social: salve for the soul. And what’s more, all this goodness is helping you achieve your New Year’s resolution. When you support a farm cooperative, the community and the cooperative supports you.”
Boxes have become more popular as people seek more local food. When the SW WA Growers Cooperative and Food Hub opened two years ago, it did a winter-time multi-farm box. They expected 20 to 30 customers but got over 40 subscribers.
“Sometimes people think winter is the slow time for farm product availability and that isn’t the case,” Bramwell said. “It gets slow around mid-March when storage crops start to get soft. That’s a slow time, but it picks back up again during mid-May, and we will have another box program in June.”
The pick-up locations include Whitewood Cider in downtown Olympia, Headless Mumby in west Olympia, the SW WA Food Hub warehouse in Tumwater, and Nature Nurture Farmacy in Chehalis. Boxes are available for purchase online at www.swwafoodhub.com or by emailing info@swwafoodhub.com.
For more information, contact the SW WA Food Hub manager to register or to get involved with the multi-farm produce box program at info@swwafoodhub.com.
