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CONTACT SCBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@scbj.com

Businesses invited to Washington Organic Week

By M.L. Dehm
SCBJ Freelance Writer

There is still time for Snohomish County businesses to participate in Washington Organic Week by promoting Washington organic foods or by sponsoring an event.

Washington Organic Week is Sept. 12-19. The weeklong campaign to educate consumers about the state’s organic farmers and produce is the brainchild of Tilth Producers of Washington.

“If businesses want to participate they can make a contribution and we will work with them to get the promotional materials related to Washington Organic Week,” said Kelsey Maki, program assistant at Tilth Producers of Washington. “Also if they want to host an event, we can help them to get that organized and promoted, too.”

Some of the businesses that have already agreed to participate include PCC Natural Market and Charlie’s Produce. But this celebration of Washington’s organic produce isn’t limited to those who sell to the public.

“We’re also working with Tini Bigs, which is a cocktail lounge in downtown Seattle, to do an organic cocktail contest,” Maki said.

FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals, is another participant. Tilth Producers of Washington hope to educate the budding chefs so they know what’s available when they begin to make their own menus.

“We’re going to get an organic farmer down to their class to talk about organics in cooking,” Maki said.

Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture demonstrated that the nation’s organic farms and ranches enjoyed higher average sales in 2008, with 44 percent of sales taking place less than 100 miles from the farm, keeping that money in the local economy instead of sending it elsewhere.

These are important figures for a state where agriculture is a key industry worth $38 billion.

Currently, Washington is one of the leaders in organic produce. The state’s key competitor is California, which leads the nation with an estimated 36 percent of all U.S. organic produce sales.

According to market research group Packaged Facts, locally grown food sales could become a $7 billion industry by 2011, up from $4 billion in 2002.

Tilth Producers of Washington is just one organization that seeks to support and promote the organic produce industry. Links to other organizations are available at www.tilthproducers.org.

According to Maki, the plan is to hold a Washington Organic Week each year and encourage others to participate.

“We’re really hoping it will be something that will involve all of the stakeholders invested in local and organic agriculture in the state of Washington. We’re trying to connect with other organizations to make things happen,” she said.

Snohomish County has had recent emphasis on the support of its local farmers and on the new business of agricultural tourism. Maki would like to hear from more Snohomish County businesses interested in supporting the industry.

“There are some great people in Snohomish County that I would love to get hooked up with,” Maki said.

Learn more

To find out about Washington Organic Week, send an e-mail to organic@tilthproducers.org or call 206-632-7506.