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The Pacific Northwest Farm Direct Marketing Association is a group of farmers who work together to find ways to increase direct-to-consumer sales and profit margins through value-added products. Covering British Columbia, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, their annual meeting for 2009 will be held at the Phoenix Inn in Olympia, March 5-7, and will include a bus tour of various direct-market models in the Olympia area.

What is Farm-Direct Marketing?

"Farm-direct marketing" describes a variety of ways that farmers increase value to retain a larger portion of each food-dollar spent. USDA estimates consistently show growers receiving only 15-20 cents of every food dollar spent, with the majority going to processors and distributors. Direct marketing provides alternatives: Internet marketing, direct-to-restaurant, farm stands, pick-your-own or u-pick and direct-subscription models such as whole-animal sales or community-supported agriculture (CSA). Farm-direct marketing can also include such things as winery tours, "agritainment" events such as pumpkin patches and corn mazes, as well as value-added products such as jams, jellies and baked goods. By eliminating intermediate steps, consumers get a fresher product at a lower cost, while the farmer keeps more of each food dollar in the local economy.

Annual Meeting in Olympia, March 5-7, 2009

The association will hold its annual meeting this year in Olympia. In addition to normal business, this will also include a bus tour of various direct-marketing businesses in the area. Stops on the tour such as Jim's U-Fish, Wilcox Farms, Terry's Berries and others. Silver Springs Beef Ranch is an 1100-acre operation. Lattin's County Cider Mill hosts cider-related and other events. Johnson's Smoke House and Sausage operates a sophisticated operation under USDA HACCAP guidelines and the tour will also include other "agro-tourism" destination such as the Great Western Supply Barn & Nursery, the Rutledge Corn Maze, Schilter Family Farm and the Medicine Creek Winery. Lodging and main meeting shall be held at the Phoneix Inn Suites, 415 Capitol Way North in Olympia.

Contact Information for Pacific Northwest Farm Direct Marketing Association

Peggy Zimmerman, Secretary PO Box 1315
Brush Praire WA 98606

(360) 574-9119
http://www.washingtondirectfarmmarketing.org

For Further Information

• www.oregondirectfarmmarketing.org
• www.washingtondirectfarmmarketing.org
• www.bccanadadirectfarmmarketing.org
• WSDA has a small farm and direct marketing program, which publishes a convenient "green book" of rules and regulations, as well as tips
• The WSU Small Farms team also has a variety of resources, including support for diversified business planning