Puget Sound Food Network - Connecting the Farm to Market
- Organization Name
- Northwest Agriculture Business Center/Puget Sound Food Network
- Mission Statement
- The mission of the Puget Sound Food Network (PSFN) is to increase the production, distribution, and consumption of regionally produced food. The Puget Sound Food Network enables real-time communication between food producers, consumers, and other participants in the Puget Sound regional food system — and facilitates online food-related transactions. Founded in 2009, Puget Sound Food Network (PSFN) is a supply chain support system that combines technology and professional staff to increase the production, distribution, and consumption of food and other agricultural goods produced in the region.
- City & State
- Mount Vernon,
- Washington
- Question 1
- The Before: What was the challenge, issue or problem your organization was facing? Or, what was the opportunity you were not able to take advantage of before you put a technology solution in place?
- Answer: Strong local food systems are necessary for a self reliant and resilient economy. Re-establishing regional food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are necessary tasks. PSFN was created as a supply chain support system that combines technology and professional staff to increase the production, distribution, and consumption of food and other agricultural goods produced in the region. We are advocates for local food working on behalf of Puget Sound area sellers and buyers. We believe technology tools are necessary, but it’s people dealing directly with people that will create a more sustainable regional food system through trust and relationship building in our own communities. Without PSFN’s website and supporting technologies, we would not be able to pursue our mission.
- Question 2
- What Microsoft software have you used/are you using in your organization to more effectively engage your beneficiaries, donors and/or volunteers and/or to make a difference in your community?
- Answer: Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 (Includes any of the following: Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OneNote, Outlook, and Word)
- Other: www.psfn.org
- Question 3
- The After: How have these Microsoft products allowed you to engage your stakeholders more efficiently or effectively to make a difference in your community?
- Answer: PSFN uses Outlook and Excel extensively to track membership details. Through Excel we are able to keep customized and organized lists of contact information, farm details, and food transactions in one place. PSFN also uses multiple templates to assist in billing. PSFN has utilized Publisher to create eye-catching print ads to advertise our innovative projects such as our Skagit and Seattle WholeSale Markets. Our WholeSale Market Fresh Sheets are designed and maintained with Excel. The Fresh Sheets are an invaluable way to advertise products from multiple farms at one convenient market. These Microsoft products have enabled PSFN to combine technology and professional staff to increase the production, distribution, and consumption of food and other agricultural goods produced in the region.
- Question 4
- What about these products (the features or the way you used them) made them particularly helpful in enabling your organization to expand and improve upon its community impact?
- Answer: In 2010, PSFN created two quick and easy seasonal markets for local food producers to sell volumes (cases, pallets, etc) of locally produced food at wholesale prices directly to commercial buyers such as retailers, small distributors, value-added food processors and institutional food service. Buyers were encouraged to sign up for weekly fresh sheet updates so they could contact and place orders with each vendor in advance and then pick them up at the market or arrange for delivery later. These Fresh Sheets were developed and maintained using Excel and were instrumental in the success of the Skagit and Seattle WholeSale Markets and increased local food consumption on a wholesale level. We have also been able to present our successes at many conferences and meetings using Power Point.
- Question 5
- Please provide any examples, stories or data that illustrate the difference the use of Microsoft software has enabled you to make (i.e., # of new clients reached, new program added, increased dollars raised, increased volunteers, etc.
- Answer: PSFN surveyed both the commercial buyers and the vendors that attended the WholeSale Markets. Some of the results are as follows; 24 local food vendors participated in the Skagit WholeSale Market, 16 local food vendors participated in the Seattle WholeSale Market, 57 buyers attended the Skagit WholeSale market, 35 buyers attended the Seattle WholeSale market, an average of 4 new buyer contacts were made per vendor at the Skagit WholeSale Market, 1 buyer spent an average of $600/week at the Skagit WholeSale Market. Please also see our videos for testimonials – http://www.psfn.org/skagitmarket/ We presented at 13 industry conferences (all using Powerpoint) to communicate our work.
- Upload photos or other supporting works/files
- Supporting Work Web URL www.psfn.org
- Special directions needed to access your work
- Please contact Ann Leason, ann@psfn.org or 360-336-3666, to set up a temporary log in to PSFN.
- Upload org logo or other identifying graphic
