Support local farmers by taking advantage of locally-produced food

By Laura Kostad for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

The Tri-Cities is surrounded by farms, orchards and vineyards.

Our state is a national leader in the production of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, sweet cherries and spearmint oil. It is second in the U.S. for potatoes, grapes and asparagus.

Even crop sectors that don’t land spots in the top rankings are exported all over the country and world. This goes for commodities, grains, seafood and meat.

Food processing also is big business, converting local produce into ready-toeat products stocked on store shelves, locally and abroad.

Tucked in among these larger producers are smaller scale growers and makers who put a hand to the land and seasonally bring the fruits of their labor to market.

Traditionally, this has been pop-up roadside stands and farmers markets, but in recent years, new options have emerged for connecting local food producers to consumers.

It can be challenging to track down local versions of what can be picked up easily from grocery store shelves, but making the choice to support the small business owners and entrepreneurs who make up Tri-Cities’ and the greater Columbia Basin’s local foodshed offers its own intrinsic value – it provides food security for the region, makes food more personal, and, at the very least, it’s as fresh as you can get it without growing it yourself.

Spring begins this month and late March is when asparagus harvest season in our state typically gets underway. We think this makes it the perfect time to offer this roundup of the plentiful fresh food options available locally so you can make good on your plans to eat healthier.

CSAs

Community supported agriculture, or CSA, is a way of directly supporting a farmer before the harvesting season begins.

Limited to the number of customers a given farm can supply, customers buy a half share (geared toward individuals or couples), or full share (couples or small families) in the off-season and pick up a box of fresh produce at a drop site throughout the summer.

Big Sage Organics (bigsageorganics. net/csa) of Othello serves the Tri-Cities for 18 weeks from June through September.

It provides “basic cooking staples like garlic, onions, herbs, squash, starches and common salad fixings. We will also include weekly seasonal sweet and savory items like heirloom tomatoes, melons, sweet corn, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, (and) cucumbers,” according to its website.

For 2023, a half share is $300 and delivered every other week, while a full share is $600 and delivered weekly.

Tri-Citians can select to pick up their box at either the Kennewick or Richland Highlands Organic Market.

Delivery is Tuesday afternoon for both locations.

Local Pumpkin of Pasco offers a hybrid CSA format featuring fully customizable delivery, from weekly, every other week or monthly doorstop.

Local Pumpkin networks with numer- ous local fresh food producers to offer a one-stop shop for most staples, such as fruits, vegetables, raw milk, free-range eggs, grass-fed meats, ferments, baked goods, honey, cheese, pasta, beans and more from around the Northwest region.

They even grow some of their own vegetables.

During the off-season, many local products are still available, though they source from California and other distributors to continue offering fresh produce.

Some farms are open to the public where produce can be purchased directly or ordered online ahead of time.

Schreiber Farms is one example – for pickup there, at a local farmers market or other centralized location.

For more ambitious foodies, U-pick operations are another option, such as Bill’s Berry Farm in Grandview, Applegate Blueberry U-Pick in Burbank, Ray French Orchard in Richland and the Hatch Patch in north Pasco.

Other local food resources

Tracking down local food products can be a treasure hunt, especially in the off-season.

Visiting independent retailers can yield locally sourced goods, some of which are available year-round.

The Public Market @ Columbia River Warehouse in Kennewick is one such resource, as will be the Osprey Pointe Marketplace once it opens. (See story on page A1).

Highlands Organic Market, with locations in both Kennewick and Richland, stocks local ferments, raw milk, cheese, microgreens, mushrooms, produce, chicken and quail eggs, honey, bee pollen, baked goods and more.

Others specialize in a particular local food product.

For example, Ethos Bakery of Richland grinds its own flour and sells it by the bag. The flour is sourced from Southeastern Washington farms that grow heirloom varieties.

When the Tri-Cities Food Co-Op, a hub for organically grown food, personal care products and more, gets off the ground (See story on page A25), it will house many community food resources under one roof.

Pasco Farmers Market

Located at the corner of South 14th Avenue and West Columbia Street in downtown Pasco, this market has been in operation since 1988.

It reopened in March 2022 after a year of renovations and improvements.

Among last year’s vendors were Albertin Orchards fruit of Kennewick, Schreiber Farms organic produce of Eltopia, Lovejoy Farms produce of Eltopia, Pat N Tams Beef of Stanfield, Oregon, Paradise Pastures meats of Kennewick, Rudy’s Pepper Blends of Kennewick, Ranch at the End of the Road vintner of Benton City, Old Timers Pork Rinds of Prosser, Dixie Del’s Cut Flower Farm of Kennewick. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays from mid-May to the end of October.

Contact: downtownpasco.org/pascofarmers-market.html, Facebook.

Richland Farmers Market

Held at the Parkway shopping plaza between George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue.

Among last year’s vendors were Hermiston Melon Company, Beyond Pickles of Richland, JDS Farms’ corn of Pasco, Walchli Farms produce of Hermiston, Tri-Fry American Frites, Neiffer Triangle 4 Ranch grass-fed beef and eggs of Lexington, Oregon, Blakelby Farms corn and melons of Pasco, The Herd 5C beef of Ritzville, Wheel Line Cider of Ellensburg, Flatau Farm fruit of Basin City, Water Buffalo Brewery of Walla Walla, Colockum Hillside Farms meats, Schreiber Farms, Old Timers Pork Rinds, Bauman’s Blossoms.

Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays. Season begins the first Friday in June and runs through the last Friday of October.

Contact: marketattheparkway.com.

Downtown Kennewick

Farmers Market

This year the market will be held in a new downtown location, to be determined.

Watch the Kennewick Farmers Market Facebook page for updates.

Among last year’s vendors were Mooers Family Farm meats of Kennewick, Chesed Farms gourmet mushrooms and microgreens of Walla Walla, Hermiston Melon Company, Albertin Orchards, L Bar Ranch Beef of Granger, Stangel Bison Ranch of Enterprise, Oregon, Schreiber Farms, Walchli Farms, Wheel Line Cider, Fernandez Farms of Sunnyside, Dixie Del’s Cut Flowers, Rise & Shine Bake Shop of Kennewick, Eating Gluten Free Bakery of Richland, Skymaiden Soaps of Kennewick.

Hours: 4-7 p.m. Thursdays. Season begins on the first Thursday in June and runs through the first Thursday in October.

Contact: Facebook.com/kennewickfarmersmarket.

PNNL Employees-Only Farmers Market

Launched in 2012, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosts a farmers market in Richland for employees, featuring familiar local growers such as Schreiber Farms and Dixie Del’s Cut Flowers.

Hours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays. Season begins in June through midSeptember.

3 Eyed Fish Farmers Market, Richland

Held at 1970 Keene Road in Richland near 3 Eyed Fish Kitchen + Bar.

Among last year’s vendors were JDHolbrook Farms eggs of Boardman, Oregon, Aichele Farms berries of Stanfield, Oregon, Bautista Farms of Sunnyside, Rill-Butamante Farms pulses, soup and spice mixes of Granger, Beyond Pickles, Micro Grow Farms microgreens of Prosser, Key Family Farms, Hermiston Melon Company, Columbia Basin Shroomery of Pasco, Mooers Family Farm, Two Sisters Honey of Kennewick, Northwest Cured Meat Products of Pasco, Voodoo Signature Spices & Sauces of Kennewick, Ranch at the End of the Road, Old Timers Pork Rinds, SunKissed Lavender of West Richland, Albertin Orchards, Rise & Shine Bake Shop, Marla’s Cookie Co. of Richland, Rocken K’s Goat Milk Soap Co. of Kennewick, Double K Blooms of Kennewick, Es Lit Candle Co. of Richland.

Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Season begins the middle of June and runs through the middle of October

Contact: Facebook.com/ 3eyedfishfarmersmarket.

Many market vendors accept EBT, SNAP, WIC or KERNEL program currencies.

Custom Labeled Bottled Water

Custom Labeled Water Bottles:

• Are a useful promotional branding tool

• Can promote your company, special events, coupons or seasonal offerings

• Make a great attention-grabbing icebreaker when meeting with new clients and businesses

• Can be used for private events like weddings or family reunions

• Are available in two convenient sizes: 16.9oz and 10oz said. “But we’ve had doctors and attorneys come in (in Walla Walla) and thank us for having the shop. It’s literally anyone between 5 and 60 years old.”

Trinity Realty and cofounder of EastWest Food Rescue, a nonprofit focused on redirecting food from the bountiful east side of the state to the denser populated west side.

Restoration Community Impact hasn’t shifted all its resources to the market. With its core team of family volunteers, partners and the state, the Sparks say they a longer shelf life, it’s fresher and it’s less food miles traveled and significantly less resource intensive,” Schreiber said.

Selling in a brick-and-mortar store is also a more stable market for growers, providing more visibility and a year-round outlet for their products.

Schreiber has tried other local venues for selling his produce, but they weren’t cost effective.

Last year he had a stall at the Public Market @ Columbia River Warehouse in downtown Kennewick and also held popup market stands in Ace Hardware parking lots with set days and hours of operation. Neither were profitable, he said.

“I think that we are underserved by our grocery stores. We’ve had grocery stores close down at the same time that our popu-

Be forewarned, some boba drinks may have high sugar content.

“I usually have them as a treat,” Suarez said. “But I know many people who drink them every day, sometimes two a day.” still host food distribution events across nine counties in Eastern Washington, covering the Yakima Valley and as far north as Okanagon. They say they’re not trying to compete with other food banks, they’re just trying to fill a need. lation has grown. If you look at the number of people per square foot of grocery stores in the Tri-Cities, it’s high. There’s a need for more of them,” he said.

“Looking at the inflation numbers and everything else going on, you don’t have to be part of the working poor to be affected,” said Irene Mendoza, chief administrative officer for the nonprofit.

How a co-op works

The co-op-style store will operate at an organizational level similar to Kent, Washington-headquartered outdoor outfitter, REI. Its stores are open to the public but offer a lifetime member buy-in option for a reasonable one-time fee that provides members access to special sales, discounts and voting rights in board elections.

Tri-Cities Food Co-Op is accepting membership payments now to help fund the future co-op.

A basic lifetime membership is $100 per household, or $50 for active students and seniors over 65.

Payments may be paid by credit card

Moon suggests that first timers try a milk tea.

“Taro milk tea, and tiger milk tea (which is brown sugar milk tea) are our most popular drinks,” Moon said. Dunlap offers something similar with

“Just one week’s worth of groceries will help supplement your bills and you can afford other priorities because no one asked to be put in this position at any level of economic value, so we don’t have restrictions. You can just come get what you can get to hold you over for the week.” over the phone at 509-266-4348 or via check made payable to Tri-Cities Food Coop and mailed to Schreiber Farms, 2621 Ringold Road, Eltopia, WA 99330.

The Sparks are still seeking additional partners and donors to help advance their efforts to impact the community at large.

Founding members also are welcome to contribute at amounts of $250 or higher.

Part of the funding goal is to welcome 1,000 members.

It’s not the first time a food co-op has opened in Richland.

Mid-Columbia Market at the Hub operated from 2013-17 at 603 Goethals Drive, now the home of Pacific Pasta & Grill.

Schreiber and his steering committee were not involved in that market, though he said some former organizers have showed up at public planning meetings to show their support.

This time around, he feels the effort to establish a co-op will have a firmer foun- brown sugar tea, which is popular. But really, she said, you can’t go wrong with any of the drinks. dation and more established business plan to ensure long-term success and viability.

“The drink is really aesthetic, and when you drink it, you’re hooked,” she said.

Restoration Market is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 7 p.m. Thursday. Appointments are preferred due to demand. The store offers walk-ins the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Search Restoration Market: 4000 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite 110, Kennewick. Contact: restorationcommunityimpact.com; 509-987-9281.

Organizers plan to file paperwork to turn the co-op into a legal nonprofit. Schreiber said they have retained a lawyer, have articles of incorporation, a bank account, marketing firm and a formal website and job announcements in the works.

“We have a letter of intent for a lease and are in negotiations with a lender for a $350,000 loan,” he said.

The goal is to raise $600,000 from the community. In addition to membership payments, one large pledge of $50,000 has come through in support of the co-op.

Prior to the co-op’s launch, a governing board will be elected by the membership. Go to: facebook.com/TCFCoop, website coming soon. Contact admin@tcfcoop.org for more information.

“They still come here,” Kelsey said. Paper Street sells nine or 10 different beers it makes, crowlers (or cans) and has two more taps dedicated to other area breweries.

The beer, of course, is the main attraction.

One of their staffers makes the beer, and “the customer base has told us they believe the beers have improved,” John said.

But Paper Street also sells ciders and wine made by local winery Goose Ridge, plus seltzers in which flavors can be added.

While customers can bring their own food, food trucks are usually at the farm on Friday and Saturday nights, and there is a musician or band playing about once a month. And it’s kid friendly.

Customers aren’t surprised when locals fly in, landing on the grass airstrip during the summer, getting their growlers filled up, and then flying away.

Cornhole tournaments can draw big crowds on the weekends, Kelsey said.

“It’s very much an outdoor venue,” she said. “People come here to sit outside and have a drink.”

The company also offers space to rent with either its hangar or the entire brewpub.

Other than the temporary closure, business has been going well.

“The amount this place has grown is amazing. Business has been up 44% over last year,” John said.

There are nine employees, including John and Kelsey. All of them are either close friends or family.

“Obviously we’re going to grow, but we don’t want to change the atmosphere,” John said. “I don’t want to take this venue and move somewhere else. We’ll have some in-house food, such as some breakfast burritos or personal pan pizzas. But we don’t want to take away from the food trucks.”

After all, the food truck owners are also part of this new family.

Even with this bump in the road, it’s been an exciting time for this couple.

“I love socializing, the customer in- teraction and meeting new people,” Kelsey said.

John enjoys the challenge.

“I’ve done 13 years as a hunting guide, and either seven or eight years as a fishing guide,” he said. “There is something about the service industry that I like. I’m used to dealing with people. And I get excited about dealing with a business and growing it.

“Growing the business and atmosphere with our friends and family. What’s not to like?”

Search Paper Street Brewing Company: 241 Fanning Road, Pasco. Hours: 3-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Contact: 509-460-9814; paperstreetbrewing. com.