Issue No. 2
April.2010
PSFN Newsletter
Thanks from PSFN

Dear PSFN Members & Friends,
 
A personal note of thanks for participating in the first stage of Puget Sound Food Network's growth. As a result of our month-long membership drive, we surpassed our goal! Together, our efforts will positively impact Western Washington food producers.  We are delighted by the positive response and local food community's support. Again, THANK YOU!  
 
Our staff has met with many members personally to learn about specific needs and interests, and find out how Puget Sound Network can help with their specific marketing objectives. Though the online tool is designed to play a key role in helping members make connections to buy and sell the freshest, local food products, our staff is here to listen, research and help solve other problems like marketing and brand messaging, packaging insights, product attributes, distribution ideas, locating specific products---we are here to work on your behalf.  Please feel free to contact us directly if you would like to make an appointment to discuss.
 
In the next quarter, we expect to see increased transaction reporting from our members as a result of both PSFN online and offline networking.  This will be due to the availability of more summer produce and specialty foods.  We invite you all to keep us posted on transaction activity, especially those that take place offline.  We are interested in the details!  PSFN will continue to seek your feedback and work with community partners to continue improving our services and creating solutions that benefit our local food system.  
 
In the coming weeks you will notice some new website design elements that should make the task of listing products to buy, sell or request more simple.  Look out for our regular quarterly newsletters and Live Market email update- our version of a weekly fresh sheet.
 
We recently distributed an important survey to PSFN buyers.  If you are a buyer and have not completed this survey, there is still time to submit feedback!  CLICK THIS LINK TO BE TAKEN TO OUR SURVEY.
 
You are all invited to participate in our membership networking and training session on April 28 at the lovely Tucker House Inn in Friday Harbor, WA.  For more information and to RSVP, please contact Ann Leason at [email protected].
 
Thanks again and we look forward to working with you.  We encourage you to visit the site at http://www.psfn.org.
 
Sincerely,

Puget Sound Food Network

What's New At PSFN?

PSFN has been moving quickly since our last update. Not only have we brought in an abundance of amazing new members but we've begun the process of further enhancing our design and functionality. You may already have noticed our brand new member profiles with the ability to not only include Certifications/Labels for your business, but also include a flickr photo gallery. Still on the way is a stronger system for managing your account. You may notice some great changes as soon as this week. We'll make an announcement when more new features are up and running.



Member Highlight: Brian Kvistad, Blossom Grocery (Buyer)

I grew up in Seattle.  I've been in the grocery business for a long time.  As a teenager, I worked as a grocery store bagger and that's when I started reading labels.  In college I worked at the now closed Rainbow Grocery on Capital Hill.  Later I joined PCC in Greenlake. The WTO conference in Seattle "pushed" me out of Seattle onto Lopez Island.  That's where I am now.

READ FULL INTERVIEW ON OUR BLOG

Live Market Emails

You should have recently received our new Live Market email broadcast exclusively for PSFN members.  This email will be published every Monday throughout the year announcing the most current list of local, in-season products available for wholesale purchase directly from area food producers in our Network.  Live Market listings will include a variety of fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, jams and jellies, flowers, and even culinary herbs, along with contact information and product details like certifications, quantity and form.

Live Market product lists will change as members post and edit availability throughout the season. Please note that the web-based version provides the latest information on all member products.  For the most current product details and to learn about each producer's products, login today and visit the Marketplace section of the Puget Sound Food Network:
http://www.psfn.org/bsr/buy.php
Some recently available products include:
  • Grassfed Angus beef from Whidbey Island Grown producer Long Family
  • Organic, grassfed Angus beef from Skiyou Ranch in Sedro Woolley
  • Shellfish and Fish from Alber Seafoods in Tukwila
  • Grassfed lamb from Hidden Meadow Ranch in Mt Vernon
  • Culinary lavender and jams/jellies from Lavender Wind Farm on Whidbey Island
  • Skagit Fresh Blackberry Soda
PSFN Wants Your Events & Feedback:

Send us your news and events (farm days, special dinners, press releases) to [email protected] and we'll share it with our membership via our calendar.

How can we help you use PSFN? How are you using it now? Send your feedback to [email protected].

 
In This Issue
Thanks
What's New At PSFN
Member Highlight
Live Market
Training Session #3
PSFN on Facebook
PSFN Tweets
PSFN Web-Tip #2
Training Session #3

PSFN's 3rd Training Session will be taking place on April 28th at Friday Harbor. If you're interested in participating please email Ann at [email protected].

We're on Facebook




PSFN Tweets:


March 31 was the end of founding member discount period- look for membership specials this summer!

Look out for news and information about the Skagit Wholesale Market, resulting from Skagit Food Network meetings in collaboration between PSFN and Skagit Valley Coop.

PSFN will be at the NW Foodservice show at the Seattle Convention Center on April 18-19.  We're giving away three free memberships!  Come by our booth to enter. To register for the conference, please visit www.nwfoodserviceshow.com



 
Advertise/Sponsor PSFN



Notice the ad above? PSFN offers the unique opportunity to advertise your business or products directly to a growing network of producers, buyers and distributors.

Check out our Advertising Program and/or Sponsorship Program to learn how you can reach the right audience and support your network.

PSFN Web-Tip #2:

Did you know that you can use PSFN Marketplace to request specific products and influence food production?  

Food producers are interested in working with you-- and some will even plant to order!  If you want Pimentos de Padron, Brandywine tomato, or Asian cucumber- log into http://www.psfn.org/bsr/request.php and submit your special request online.