by Jean Rogers, Farm Fund Administrator
June 2018

The Community Food Co-op Farm Fund’s Next Step Project supports local farmers who are working to expand their farms and supply us with fresh, healthy food. Next Step gives a boost to farm expansion projects through grants and low-interest secured loans, and our 2017 recipients quickly made good use of the funding.
Congratulations to the 2018 Next Step recipients:
The Growing Garden, Terra Verde Farm, Wanderwood Farm, Foothills Farm, Mariposa Farm, Southern Exposure Family Farm, Wild Acres Family Farm, Boldly Grown Farm, and Ashmore Farm.
We look forward to following these nine farms through the growing season and will report on their accomplishments throughout 2018 as their projects progress.
Following is a snapshot of how the 2017 Next Step recipients have put the funds to use.
Spring Time Farm in Everson

Nick Spring and Sarah Robinson
Project: farm property purchase and infrastructure expansion
Accomplishment: invested in four new greenhouses, a walk-in cooler, and a wash station
Quote from the farmer: “It’s going to give us expansion potential and a more sustainable farm, with long-term control over managing the land. It feels amazing to build a long-term business. We have access to more land now, and the goal is to increase production and product availability. We supply the Co-op and have
a multi-year contract with the food bank.”
Terra Verde Farm in Everson

Amy and Skuter Fontaine
Project: farm property and equipment purchase (cultimulcher and mower)
Accomplishment: cultimulcher saved a lot of time and replaced rototilling; Skuter used to be out till 10 pm and now can be home in time to do deliveries
Quote from the farmer: “The cultimulcher saved a lot of time with field prep and I don’t even know how we’d get into the blueberries without it (the mower). It’s been fantastic, really been helpful for our operations.”
Misty Meadows Farm in Everson

Melissa and Mark Moeller
Project: infrastructure improvements and increase flock
Accomplishment: the farm has excess eggs for the first time
Quote from the farmer: “New chickens are busting out eggs all over the place!”
Osprey Hill Farm in Acme

Anna and Geoff Martin
Project: chick brooding infrastructure projects to enable poultry flock expansion
Accomplishment: now hatching 750 chicks every 3 weeks; preparing to add another brooder next year and increase that to 1,000 chicks
Quote from the farmer: “It (the new brooding room) is the core of the farm and hugely important, and knowing the Co-op has our back, we couldn’t do it without your support.”
Alluvial Farm in Everson

Katie Pencke and Matthew McDermott
Project: land and equipment purchase and upgrade to local custom bulk feed mix from Scratch & Peck
Accomplishment: increased from 10 to 50 animals (pigs) and sold all of them; signed first wholesale client
Quote from the farmer: “Without the Next Step grant and loan, it (purchasing custom feed) simply couldn’t have happened.”
Sauk Farm in Concrete

Carol, Jesse, and Griffin Berger
Project: purchase equipment (apple washer, automated fruit slicer, and heat pump dehydrator)
Accomplishment: only organic honey crisp producer in our area
Quote from the farmer: “The Next Step grant allowed us to purchase equipment that we use to make our grape and apple cider and our dried apples that are all available at the Co-op.”
Well Fed Farms in Bow

Erik Olson
Project: equipment purchase (seeder, cultivating tractor, disc harrow)
Accomplishment: started supplying product to the Community Food Co-op through the Puget Sound Food Hub; picked up sales to another local business and plans to add additional buyers
Quote from the farmer: “The increased production efficiency that I’ve gained through the tools purchased with the grant funds has definitely helped to move my farm in the direction necessary to grow larger volumes of produce with better consistency/quality and to find extra time and energy to market to new customers in Whatcom County.”
Lopez Bros. Farm in Mount Vernon

Feliciano Lopez
Project: purchased 1,500 berry plants; wholesale potential for other unique organic produce
Accomplishment: supplied berries to Community Food Co-op and Skagit Valley Food Co-op; recognized with the Innovator Local Farmer Award
Quote: “We were pleased to add the delicious berries from Lopez Bros. Farm to our produce departments and are eager to continue working with them.”
—Wynne Marks, Cordata store manager
Learn More
Learn more about the Farm Fund and see how you can donate and support local farms on our website.