In the News

Announcing the Winner of the 2004 Vim Wright Stewardship Award

Celebrating Stewardship on Washington's Farms and Ranches

Snohomish Co. takes steps to help farmers stay in business

Snohomish County farmers are praising changes to the county’s agriculture code that will give them more options to make a living on their land.

F&E's Virtual Stewardship Farmers Market

F&E launches phase one of online Farmers' Market, sharing the stories of environmental stewards in their marketplace.

Grocery Executive Takes Helm at F&E

Announcing Jeffrey Voltz, former CEO of PCC Natural Markets, as F&E's new Executive Director

Order "Renewing the Countryside" Book Now

F&E partners in recently published book, "Renewing the Countryside," beautifully documenting Washington state stewards.

Announcing Thundering Hooves as 2005 Award Winner

Thundering Hooves ranch of Walla Walla has been selected as this year’s winner of the annual Vim Wright Stewardship Award. The 4th generation family farm owned and operated by the Huesby family, was chosen for their outstanding stewardship of the land, air and water, as well as their tireless leadership in educating the public about why those practices are important.

Capital Press Announces 2005 Award Winner

A fourth-generation Walla Walla ranching family has received a special stewardship award from a group that seeks to keep farming profitable and the environment healthy.

Apply Now to be the 2006 Vim Wright Stewardship Award Winner

Now accepting nominations for next year's Vim Wright Stewardship Award.

Seattle Times: Sustainable Practices at Quillisascut Farm

Seattle Times reports on sustainable food movement & Quillisascut Farm on Sunday, October 19, 2005.

Skagit Valley Herald: Help Preserve Skagit Farming

Skagit Valley Herald publishes op-ed by Dave Hedlin, F&E Board Member, on roles consumers can play to help preserve Skagit County Farming. Published October 26, 2005.

Seattle Times: Taking Back Our Food System

On Thanksgiving Day, Seattle Times published an Op-Ed by F&E's Director, Jeff Voltz, in which Voltz calls for "Taking Back Our Food System."

Sustainable Industries Jnl: Salvaging a Rare Breed of Turkeys

Sustainable Industries Journal published Thunder Hooves' story of salvaging a rare breed of turkey - the unimproved standard Bronze Wishard Strain turkey in the December 2005 issue.

Talk of the Past: The History of Celilo Falls

F&E's newest board member, George Rohrbacher, writes of the history of Washington's Celilio Falls, once one of the most productive food-gathering sites on the planet and the hub of trade for the entire Pacific Northwest region.

Organic Farm Co-op Succeeds with Farmers Markets

Ontario organic farmers form successful cooperative to offset razor-thin margins.

Capital Press: Vic Jensen on Caring for the Land

Washington State Dairy farmer and F&E Stewardship Farmer, Vic Jensen of Golden Glen Creamer, was interviewed by the Capital Press on how his practices of caring for the water, soil & animals make the most economical sense for the farm.

New Studies Back Benefit of Organic Diet

TORONTO, Canada - Organic foods protect children from the toxins in pesticides, while foods grown using modern, intensive agriculture techniques contain fewer nutrients and minerals than they did 60 years ago, according to two new scientific studies.

Seattle Times: Birds & Birders on Our Rural Farms

April 20, 2006: The Seattle Times coverage of the Sandhill Crane Festival included an interview with Farming & the Environment's co-chair, Joan Thomas, who attended with F&E board member & friend, Estella Leopold. Referred to as our "two Washington notables" Joan sites the importance of preserving farm land for wildlife habitate.

Des Moines News: Des Moines farmers market sprouts

The front page of the June 14, 2006 edition of the Des Moines News announces the opening of the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market - the first market in the state dedicated to environmental stewardship.

Capital Press: Okanogan farmers unite at Des Moines market

Capital Press reports on Farming and the Environment's support in forming the Okanogan Producers Marketing Association (OPMA), a farmer owned cooperative that sells at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market.

Highline Times: Marina market offers good stuff

If there's anything that draws local folks together, it's a common meeting place with good stuff to eat and good stuff to talk about. Local columnist for the Highline Times and Des Moines News, Earline Byers, covers the success of the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market and it's unique environmental focus.

Peninsula Daily News: A small harvest of cash

Nash Organic Farm brings in a small harvest of cash as winner of Farming & the Environment's 2006 Vim Wright Stewardship Award, reports the Peninsula Daily News on August 16, 2006.

The Chronicle: Pateros farm chosen for stewardship award

Cascade Crest Organics is features as the first runner-up for Farming and the Environment's 2006 Vim Wright Stewardship Award in the August 30, 2006 issue of The Chronicle.

Seattle P-I: Flower farmers left reeling from flood

Hmong flower vendors throughout the Puget Sound region are likely to feel significant economic impact from the November 2006 flooding.

Seattle P-I: 2006 in Food

Seattle P-I restaurant critic, Rebekah Denn, dubbs 2006 the "Year of the Question." She highlights the big food issues of 2006 from organics to eating local foods to the contamination of fish needed to round out a healthy diet.

Food Alliance: Farmers Assess their Sustainability

Food Alliance launched an on-line tool to help farmers adopt sustainable management practices and assess risks. This free self-assessment tool allows farmers to compare their own management practices with Food Alliance's "best practices".

Time: Eating Better Than Organic

Time Magazine cover story by John Cloud explores eating organic vs. eating local, March 2, 2007

Seattle PI: Take a Bite Out of Climate Change

Seattle PI publishes article by Pablo Monsivais, UW research fellow, and Mary Embleton, director of Cascade Harvest Coalition, addressing the cyclical impact our food system and climate change have on one another.

Seattle Times: The Bounty Around Us

Read the August 19, 2007 Seattle Times article, The Bounty All Around Us: From farmers to families, they hope to fix global by eating local.

NPR on Farmers Markets

Read NPR's full Farmers Market report including statistics of the growing number of farmers and farmers markets across the US.

Seattle Times: Farmers-Market Food Costs Less

Karen Gaudette of the Seattle Times reports Seattle University class findings that farmers market food costs less on average than at local grocery retailers.

Seattle Times: Pilgrims Progress

Read the Sunday, October 21, 2007 Seattle Time's article, Pilgrim's Progress, including an interview on Thundering Hooves heritage turkey's, a Farming & the Environment stewardship farm and winner of the 2005 Vim Wright Stewardship Award.

Seattle PI: Farm Bill: Saving Grace

Read the Seattle PI article on August 12, 2007, Farm Bill: Saving Grace.

Seattle PI: Where to Buy for the Eat Local Thanksgiving Challenge

The Seattle PI reports on where to buy local foods for your Thanksgiving meal, including fingerling potatoes and Sweet Louise apples grown by the Okanogan Producers Marketing Association, a farmer-owned cooperative supported by Farming & the Environment. Check the Ballinger, Magnolia and Renton Thriftway stores. Read the November 11, 2007 Seattle PI article, "There's no shortage of options for meeting the Thanksgiving 'Eat Local' Challenge."

Seattle PI: Farm to School Bill

"No one says kids shouldn't have healthy food in schools, but what we're up against is a really huge industrial food system," said Kia Kozun, Outreach Manager of Nash's Organic Produce, a Farming & the Environment stewardship farm. Legislation to be proposed in Olympia next week could catapult Washington to the forefront of national efforts to get more farm-fresh, locally grown food into lunches at schools and at other institutions.