Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 2015)
4 CapitalPress.com January 30, 2015 Website links wholesalers, farmers Christina McAlpin's plan is being tested in Boise and could be introduced elsewhere By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press Helping organic producers band together »*.,,,'I By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press NAMPA, Idaho — After transforming from journalist •,, to farmer, Beth Rasgorshek BOISE — Christina has become a leader in the re- McAlpin has a plan for mak- gion's organic industry, help- Christina McAlpin ing it easier for wholesale buy- ing to pull small producers to- Occupation: CEO Direct ers around the country to pur- gether so they can learn from Local Food each other, chase food directly from local Location: Rasgorshek, who produces farmers. Boise Her online business is al- a variety of organic seed, veg- Age: 36 Sean Ellis/Capital Press ready paying off for several etable starts and wheat on her Education: Bachelor's Direct Local Food CEO Christina McAlpin speaks with Jim Birdsall, Sean Ellis/Capital Press Boise-area farms but she ad- 7-acre Canyon Bounty Farm degree in economics, Colby marketing director for M&N Beef, June 21 at the Boise Farmers' Mar- in Nampa, is the brain behind Beth Rasgorshek inspects mits a lot more work, and rev- College; master's degree in ket. McAlpin started an online business designed to make it easier enue, is needed to take the idea Idaho's annual Organic Farm- tomato seed in a greenhouse public policy, University of for wholesale buyers to purchase food directly from local farmers. national. ing Symposium and Network- at her Canyon Bounty Farm in Colorado Nampa, Idaho. Rasgorshek has "My ultimate vision is that ing Conference. Family: Husband, Hans-Pe- restaurants and the neigh- "We've gotten a number the business doesn't do the She also helps organize or helped organize events that ter Marshall; daughter, of orders through Direct Lo- hosts other events where or- bring organic farmers together borhood grocery store would delivery, farmers do. Sofia, 3 order more food from local The website has 2,600 cal Foods," said Jim Birdsall, ganic farmers can glean valu- to learn from each other. farmers," says McAlpin, CEO members, about half farmers marketing director for M&N able information from their of Direct Local Foods, "The and half buyers. The goal is Beef of Bliss, "I think it's a colleagues, growing their ovm seed, Rasgorshek said a lot of idea is to increase orders for cisco and New York. to have 30,000 farm members good idea." "She is definitely a lead- Matt Williams, co-cwner of er in the organic community farmers think they have to farmers." DLF is different from across the country and 30,000 The Boise-based business other online local food sites buyer members. Watenvheel Gardens in Em- here," says Jennifer Miller of come together in a conference DLF has 50 farmer mem- mett, said the site has already the Northwest Center for Al- setting and have the experts has already resulted in in- in that it is designed to help tell them what's going on. creased sales for southwest farmers sell their products bers and 50 buyer members in benefited his farm, which pro- ternatives to Pesticides. "I really think the farm- Rasgorshek, who grew Idaho farmers and ranchers to wholesale buyers such Boise, which has been the test duces berries, fruit trees and and McAlpin said the compa- as restaurants and grocery market. So far, so good, for the vegetables. up on a conventional farm in ers are the experts," she said, ny is expanding into San Fran- stores, not consumers, and farmers at least. "It's almost as if we hire Nampa, attended college in "We're all problem solvers. them as marketing people for Oregon and turned to farm- Even- day we have to figure us," he said. "It's already put ing in the Portland area after out how we're going to solve us in touch with a few restau- working for nine years as a this issue or that problem. rants that consistently buy di- journalist. She said that area That was what was behind the rectly from us." had a great net\vork of pro- idea of wanting to gather to- Jered Couch, ovmer and ducers who worked together gether the farmers in southern chef of The Dish restaurant in to promote organic and com- Idaho." Rasgorshek also hopes to Boise, said he orders directly munity supported agriculture. Improving crops drop by drop from a lot of growers on the But when she moved back build a bridge between small I! website, including M&N, and to Idaho, "I felt like all of us organic producers in the area he said it's the best online tool organic farmers ... didn't and their larger conventional \.; • T-L Hydrostatic Pivot Irrigation he's seen for facilitating local really know each other," farmer neighbors. Rasgorshek said. "I thought it food sales. She said she has learned a PMDI (Precision Mobile Drip Irrigation) "There is no other system was important that we gather lot about farming from her fa- PS Corner Navigation as good as this one is to con- ourselves to get to know each ther, who was a conventional tact farmers directly," he said, other and to draw on each oth- farmer, and her brother, who farms 2,000 acres convention- "There is no better way to do ers' expertise." 3441 HWY 95 Homedale, Idaho that." Five years ago she helped ally 11 miles away. Her farm o o After farmers sign up for an launch the organic farming is surrounded by large con- account, they list their prod- symposium, which Miller ventional fields and she still ucts and let buyers know what says has helped bring the re- learns from those farmers as days they can deliver. When gion's organic community' to- well. a buyer purchases a product, gether, "It's too bad we don't have the system sends the farmers "There aren't a lot of re- more of a dialogue between www.agleader.com Talk with us today. an email letting them know sources you can go to if conventional farmers and or- they have an order and up- you're a local organic grower ganic farmers because there's dates the grower's inventors- in other than other farmers with a lot to share," she said. "I real-time. (years) of experience," Miller really think each has some- t McAlpin said she has put said. "She helped bring that to thing to share with the other. It might be a marketing tech- a lot of money into the site to our community." 208-250-3455 Most recently, Rasgorshek nique that comes from that ensure it has the latest software hans@sagelysown.com upgrades but the struggle for hosted a conference on her half-acre producer or it might www.sagelysown.com the business is to find a way farm where she and other or- be a real simple production to start generating more reve- ganic farmers discussed the tool that comes from the larg- nue so it can expand into other benefits and challenges of er producer." Use of precision markets. The site doesn't charge technologies any commission based on increases yields sales and only recently started Beth Rasgorshek on average charging members a $28 fee Owner: Canyon Bounty Farm 'independent study to sign up. Born: Kimball, Neb. Birdsall said the site Raised: Nampa, Idaho could be a big benefit to a lot G INMRCHAN ING COMMODI IBS MERCHANDISING of farmers if it's successful, Education: Associate degree, communications, Pacific University, Oregon "She has a long-term game plan for this and it's a Family: Husband, Mike Benton real good idea," he said. Western Innovator (208) 337-4393 Ag Leader SAGELY SOWN m A Dark Northern Spring SpyJ^gnMeol $''•• Calf Michelle Ellway n. . .- : •. •- :.i , ' . . - , ' . > ' • ! • : < ' - • . «f :<^pi|0l|^^ "- : --^^^ i I I ::v v | r • M^i •• "''", ' ^~''™'^^^ ^'"^ ^ "h. 1 '"-/ .1 W h fc''"'^^-^^^r Western Innovator ^Br i • • I I I - * I • . • i • '13 APACHE AS1O2O Cummins QSB Series, 215-hp, Raven Envisio PRO 2, Raven SmartTrax Autosteer, Autoboom UltraGlide, I > * t 1000-gallon poly tank, 100' Booms with 10 section Boom valves $ •' f • * * ^ 214,OOO We have everything from sprayers, to tanks and parts! 2682 2nd St. So., Nampa, (D Count on Secular People 721 Id. Oregon Ave., Pasco, WA (800) 443-0809 (800) 788-4453 (208) 454-2288 h% ^coduc\5,' AG SPRAY & FERTILIZER EQUIPMENT Simplot 90S Simplot Blvd., Caldwell, ID (509) 545-5855 www.gandragproducts.com "Helping you raise healthy animals" ALL TRAILERS IN ST0CK AJV0 REAM f&R MLIVERY! WESTERN STOCKMEN'S We at Western Stockmen's would like to say "Thanks" for your business. If you're currently not a customer, why not give us a try? Our team is ready to provide you with solutions, advice and results. We know that you're not just looking for vaccines or feed, but for a partner who is going to help make your life easier. We pride ourselves on our timely deliveries and knowledgeable staff. Only Western Stockmen's can offer you full services; from feed, to seed, to supplements to animal health, and everything in between to help you raise the healthiest animals possible. / / »' / ;/ • t / / - >; / / - i ' 11 j n For a sales representative in your area call 8OO-632-3OO5 and we will put you in touch with one of our dedicated sales reps. 1001 W. Main St. Burley, Id 208-878-7224 101 Rodeo Ave Caldwell, ID 208-459-0806 1100 W. Main Jerome, ID 208-733-S145 95 SE 5th Ave Ontario, OR 541-889-6441 IDIN15-; t • t