Viva Farms Update: Co-ops Build Better Local Economies

From Viva Farms

Viva Farms is a non-profit, farm-business incubator and training program operating over 100 acres between two locations, in Skagit and King County, Washington. We lower the barriers for beginning farmers and create opportunity for success. This year, we are supporting 34 independent businesses. Over 50 farmers are operating their businesses with the support Viva Farms provides: access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing, and capital.

The Barn at Viva Farms

This spring, we shared in the Natural Enquirer how federal funding freezes were significantly impacting our operations and putting our future in peril. We reached out to you all, our community, to preserve the land, resources, and support that the farm businesses in our program rely on—along with nearly 100 jobs and a $3M per year supply of local, organic produce. And, you showed up!

With your support, we reached our goal to fund our operations for the 2025 season! You kept the lights on and empowered us to continue our important work at the exact moment we were faced with closing our doors. Funding for this year is stabilized and secure. Now, we are fortifying our future so we can deliver on the critical initiatives we were working on before the federal funding freeze.

In so many ways, the work we are so grateful to refocus on is at the heart of our mission—growing the next generation of farmers and building a strong, local economy. Although the scale of each farm incubating at Viva Farms varies from an eighth of an acre to almost 20 acres, each one—no matter the size—is a significant part of our regional food economy. Many of the farms incubating with us sell right here at the Co-op, a few more have their own CSA programs, and even more sell to the Puget Sound Food Hub or Viva’s own sales program. Each farm pays taxes, and many are employers.

We are fortunate to live in a part of the world where truly local, organic food is not only possible, but supported. It is rare to have such a thriving agricultural economy concentrated in one place—from seed producers, to tractor mechanics, to soil scientists, and so much more.

Skagit Valley Food Co-op is a big part of that support, and staff and members alike understand that money kept local is money well spent. The Co-op has contributed significantly to help us fulfill our mission and specifically, to The Barn at Viva Farms, a multi-use, Good Agricultural Practices-certified farm facility where farmers can conduct all their on-farm post-harvest activities. The Barn construction is back in full swing after a brief pause this winter. You may just see its progress on your next trip along Highway 20. Thank you, Skagit Valley Food Co-op!

Together, we are building a more resilient food system right here in Skagit. This is what community-centered agriculture looks like, and it’s just the beginning of what we can build together.

Keep Farmers Farming

While our funding for this year is stabilized and secure, we must now secure our future. Over the next several years, we aim to continue our work in growing farmers, community, and food. With your support, we will continue to grow our programs to meet the evolving needs of our region’s farmers—and our region’s local economy. Learn more at vivafarms.org or by following us on social media @vivafarms.