Operations invited to sign up customers at state office building

By STEVE BROWN
Capital Press

OLYMPIA -- Farm-direct sales stepped into the workplace with a pilot project at the Washington state Natural Resources Building.

A May 19 trade fair in the building's central foyer brought together six organic farms and 200 state employees. The farmers described their operations and their products, and the employees chose which farm they'd like to have deliver boxes of fresh produce directly to their place of work.

Patrice Barrentine, direct marketing coordinator with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said e-mail invitations were sent to all 900 employees in the building, which houses the WSDA, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and the Recreation and Conservation Office.

"I have been blown away by the level of interest, both from the state employees and from the farmers," Barrentine said. "The (Labor and Industry) building wants to try it next, so we're going to try to turn it around quickly for this season."

Beyond that, she said, plans are to extend the community-supported agriculture program to other state agencies next year.

"Not just at the capital, but across the state," she said.

The six farms came from Thurston and Lewis counties: Boistfort Valley Farm, Helsing Junction Farm, Kirsop Farm, Left Foot Organics, Rising River Farm and Wobbly Cart Farming Collective.

The farmers set up their booths in the lobby, complete with brochures, displays of fresh-picked produce and plenty of answers for their potential CSA members. The employees milled around the tables during their lunch hour, considered their options and signed up at their favorite farm.

"I'm learning how many community farms there are and how easy it is to get homegrown veggies and fruits for my family," DNR employee Celeste Benson said. "It's gonna be fun."

"I'm getting a feel for what's available," said Mike Barber, who works at Fish and Wildlife. "I'm interested in supporting local growers."

The three farms that got the most customers -- Boistfort, Helsing Junction and Rising River -- were invited to start making deliveries to the building starting the third week in June.

Jason Kelly, communications director at WSDA, e-mailed employees they could sign up for any of the six farms represented, and that the three not chosen to deliver to the Natural Resources Building have existing CSA deliveries elsewhere in the Olympia area.

"This can be a pilot project for not just government, but any place with a large number of employees: Intel, Boeing, anywhere. We're bringing the farmers' market to the office," Kelly said.

Laney said one key element to the pilot project was assuring it was ethical and wouldn't interfere with the food operations in the building. "We asked the cafeteria to make sure there was no objection," she said. "They're thinking of ordering local food."

Mike Louisell, public information officer at WSDA, said having a single drop-off point for the farmers would not only be convenient but also would save fuel. "The loading dock will make for easy access," he said.

Online

www.washingtonwellness.gov

http://boistfortvalleyfarm.com/

http://helsingfarmcsa.com/

www.kirsopfarm.com/

www.leftfootorganics.org/

http://risingriverfarm.com/

http://wobblycart.com/