Developing Regional Wholesale Markets on the North Olympic Peninsula

North Olympic Development Council, The Local Food Trust, and Washington State Regional Small Farms Program have been working on a USDA Local Food Promotion Program Grant to help develop regional wholesale markets on the North Olympic Peninsula.

This planning grant will identify the most effective strategies for an intermediary business enterprise to expand regional wholesale markets for producers on the geographically isolated, economically distressed North Olympic Peninsula of Washington. The project seeks to increase wholesale purchases of local produce and value-added foods from Clallam and Jefferson Counties by identifying and addressing barriers to local purchasing experienced by grocers, institutions and community-based organizations in the region and by identifying and addressing barriers preventing area producers from accessing wholesale markets. Barriers experienced by restaurants will be identified and addressed to the extent allowed by the impact of Covid-19 on the restaurant industry in the region. A key part of this strategy will be to recognize neighboring counties, especially Kitsap, as a first step market opportunity.