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Cascade Harvest Coalition 

Description

Cascade Harvest Coalition is dedicated to re-localizing the food system in Washington by connecting consumers more directly with producers. We help farmers by connecting them with the tools and resources they need to be more sustainable and provide timely information to consumers so they can make informed food buying decisions. We build community partnerships, share information and resources, and collaborate to create effective change that benefits us all.

Mission Statement
Cascade Harvest Coalition is your local food and farming resource center.
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Cascade Harvest Coalition
4649 Sunnyside Ave N Ste 123 
Seattle 
WA
98103-6955 
(206) 632-0606 

Mary Embleton 
Executive Director 

Programs

Cascade Harvest Coalition Programs

Puget Sound Fresh (www.pugetsoundfresh.org), our local farm product branding and consumer education program, gives consumers the tools they need to make informed food buying decisions. We maintain a searchable database of farms, farmers markets, and locally-grown and produced food; produce a regional farm guide and Community Supported Agriculture directory; and conduct a variety of popular 'eat local' campaigns aimed at raising awareness about local farms and food and supporting local farm viability.

Washington FarmLink addresses the critical issues of getting the next generation of farmers on the land and farming. We provide beginning and established farmers with help accessing land, information, training, markets and the resources they need to be sustainable.

Farm-to-Table Workshops connect local farmers with local food buyers. By bringing together farmers, food processors, restaurateurs, grocers, and school, hospital, and nursing home food service representatives interested in direct marketing opportunities, we collaboratively tackle problems facing our regional food system and create innovative solutions. These workshops are an excellent opportunity for networking and building successful sales relationships.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Cascade Harvest Coalition received the 2009 Advocate of the Year Award by Tilth Producers of Washington. The award recognizes our years of building awareness of regional farm issues, promoting farmland preservation, enhancing community food security and working collaboratively to improve the local food system.

The greatest challenge we face today is a significant loss of funding support in 2009 and 2010 due to an increasingly weak economy. While we have been successful in diversifying funding away from local government grants, the reductions are large and present a significant challenge to our ability to carry out meaningful programming. We are looking for creative ways to diversify funding sources, analyzing program delivery, and how to most effectively utilize the resources we do have.

Evaluation


Cascade Harvest Coalition (CHC) is a collaborative effort to sustain agriculture in our region. They are dedicated to “re-localizing” the food system in Washington State by more directly connecting consumers and producers.

Proven Success
CHC reaches millions of consumers with messages on the critical importance of local farms and food to our economy, our communities and our environment. They connect farmers with local food buyers, helping support sustainable farming operations and increasing their bottom line. One of the most important roles of the Coalition is to strengthen the connections between the region's farmers and consumers.

Over the last several years they have observed how many of the farmers they deal with also own forestland, and how many of the same issues of land tenure, local markets, sustainable growing practices also apply to forestland. To address these issues they began working with the Northwest Natural Resource Group and their many small forestland owners.

Sustainability
CHC is working to increase their earned revenue through advertising in their publications, increasing e-commerce and donations through their website and social media, and partnering with other organizations on mutually beneficial fundraising ventures. They have survived some lean times through dedicated staff and many volunteers.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
12/10/2008 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/16/2005 $5,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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