Connecting to Our Roots: Creating an Inland Northwest
Community Food Systems Association

Colette DePhelps

Rural Roots: The Inland Northwest Community Food Systems Association is a regional food and farming organization. Our geographic scope includes the seven eastern most counties of Washington and the ten northern most counties of Idaho. As an organized network of small-acreage farmers, community educators, economic development advisors, consumers and others working in community food systems, we: 1) Build on the opportunities and tackle the challenges facing Inland Northwest small acreage farmers and market gardeners, 2) Enhance the economic viability of small acreage farms and communities in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, 3) Encourage the production and consumption of sustainably produced local foods, 4) Create connections between small-acreage farmers and consumers and network with other regional food and agricultural organizations.

Rural Roots grew out of a series of farm tours and a community food systems workshop held in the summer of 1997. The farm tours were designed to foster an understanding of local food systems in the region and the challenges and opportunities facing small acreage farmers. The workshop, which was held in Coeur d’Alene in conjunction with a Coeur d’Alene/Spokane tour included an overview of community food systems, examples of other food systems work and envisioning the possibilities for an Inland Northwest Community Food System. After identifying priorities to make our vision a reality, the workshop participants decided to form a task force to address some of the priorities listed. Tour participants were invited to join the task force and we scheduled a meeting to begin our next steps.

Original leadership of the Task Force included two non-profit staff members and two extension faculty from the University of Idaho. Meeting three times a year, the Task Force used the priorities and food systems vision developed at the workshop as a basis for creating a purpose statement and goals. From these, program priorities were identified. In the beginning, educational opportunities for small acreage farmers and consumers came to the top of the list.

With funding support from various foundations, USDA programs, and both the University of Idaho and Washington State University, the Task Force sponsored/co-sponsored the following programs: 1) Inland Northwest farm tours and on-farm workshops, 2) Researching and organizing shared-use commercial kitchen networks, 3) "Eating on the Palouse" dinners and workshops highlighting locally grown produce, 4) A Small Acreage Farming/Market Gardening short course and notebook, 5) Cultivating the Harvest: Inland Northwest Small Acreage Farming conference, 6) Reinventing Economic Development in the Inland Northwest workshop/strategy session.

In the fall of 1998, the Task Force decided to become a formal community food systems organization. In Spring of 1999, we identified a fiscal sponsor, developed a process for membership and redefined our program areas to include: 1) Building Partnerships. We provide an opportunity for networking and build partnerships to increase the availability of locally grown food to the Inland Northwest; 2) Providing Education. We provide educational opportunities to growers, direct marketers, and consumers; 3) Creating New Markets. We provide a "face" and a "voice" to locally produced foods so people can support locally produced foods with their dollars and their decisions; 4) Growing the Bottom Line. We work to enhance the long-term economic viability of local farmers and communities; 5) Localizing Decision-Making. We inform small-acreage farmers and consumers about regional and national policies that may impact them directly, and help them become active participants in the policy-making process.

By summer of 1999, we had transitioned to a seven member community-based leadership team which included five farmers and two consumers dedicated to growing our regional food system. Some of the benefits of membership include: 1) Identifying program priorities and providing leadership in their design and implementation, 2) Receiving "Bringing Home the Harvest," Rural Roots’ quarterly newsletter, 3) Having an opportunity to meet and work with small-acreage farmers, community members and food systems professionals in the Inland Northwest, 4) Receiving information and discounts on Rural Roots conferences, tours, workshops and other regional food and farming events.

Presently, Rural Roots program areas have shifted to focus on direct marketing opportunities for small scale livestock, fruit, vegetable and fiber producers in the region, state-level policy and on-farm education. We have marketing three initiatives in progress: 1) Exploring the potential of an Inland Northwest marketing and distribution cooperative, 2) Regional Farm Fresh Buying Guides, 3) INW Farm and Retail Marketing Directory

Each initiative has a demonstrated commitment on the part of our members to provide leadership in terms of design, implementation and evaluation ensuring our programs serves the direct needs of farmers and community members in our region

Colette DePhelps
Program Coordinator
Rural Roots
PO Box 1618
Sandpoint, Idaho 83843
Tel: (208) 883-3462
dephelps@earthlink.net

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