Located a short ferry ride from the mainland, Lummi Island features pretty little homesteads nestled amongst green pastures and wind swept trees. Nettles Farm is one of these island gems, featuring a cozy Bed & Breakfast, produces Oberhasi Goats and rare Sulmthaler Chickens. But the farm is perhaps best known for growing a special French…
A new WSDA-certified Mobile Poultry Processing Unit or “MPPU,” championed and brought to life by the Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC), has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Value-Added Producer Program. Rural Development funds will be used to defray start-up costs for the project, which provides poultry and rabbit processing…
Did you know the Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) is one of just twenty-two (22) United States Department of Agriculture designated Cooperative Development Centers? Funded by Rural Cooperative Development Grants since 2010, NABC has provided technical assistance for the formation of cooperatives including cooperative education, articles and bylaw development, incorporating and business formation, and preparation…
NABC is helping to manage and grow the Northwest Cider Association, a trade organization formed by cider and perry producers throughout the Pacific Northwest to promote awareness of regional artisanal cider and perry. Hard cider is the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry. This month we shine the spotlight on northwest cider producer, Schilling…
NABC’s Transitioning to Value-Added Products workshops encompass comprehensive training throughout the year in development of value-added products and launching them into the marketplace. Topics range from basic feasibility evaluations, advanced business planning, industry-specific production know-how, sales and marketing, tapping into financial resources, and much more. Classes are constantly developed and re-imagined in response to industry needs, whether for new…
Whatcom County’s Cloud Mountain Farm Center will partner with the Puget Sound Food Hub to provide aggregation and distribution services for local farms which sell their products direct to supermarkets, restaurants, and food service providers though the Puget Sound Food Hub’s web site. This new enterprise will start on Monday, September 9, and will serve…
“The Art of Liqueurs”: 2-day Workshop for Crafting Specialty Liqueurs Dates: October 2 & 3, 2014 Instructor and award winning distiller Ryan Hembree joins NABC to present the first ever Puget Sound workshop on “The Art of Liqueurs”. Ryan’s was winner of the 2013 Sip NW Magazine “Best in the West” in two categories: Best…
The Northwest Agriculture Business Center has been awarded $123,633 in grant funding to support the North Cascades Meat Producers Cooperative in its purchase of a mobile processing unit. This unit will be built by TriVan Truck Body of Ferndale, Washington and provide on-farm USDA inspected harvest for livestock producers located in Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and…
Pastured poultry has long been recognized as a viable enterprise for diversified family farms. In order to access markets, farmers must have their birds processed. Whether direct marketing, retail, or wholesale, there are specific processing regulations that must be followed and stringent guidelines for the facilities used. NABC has built and put into operation a fully…
