LOPEZ COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

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Mobile slaughtering unit wins Founder of New Northwest award

posted 12/07/02
Sustainable Northwest has named Lopez Community Land Trust and Island Grown Farmers' Cooperative as recipients of a Founders of a New Northwest 2003 award for their Mobile Meat Processing Unit project.

As the first mobile slaughter unit in the nation to receive a USDA Grant-of-Inspection, the Mobile Meat Processing Unit enables island farmers to market their meat directly by the piece to local residents, stores, farmers' markets and restaurants.

Developed by the Lopez Community Land Trust in cooperation with the Island Grown Farmers' Cooperative which now leases and operates it, the $150,000 unit consists of a tow vehicle and 26 foot-long trailer equipped for the on-farm slaughter of beef, sheep, goats and hogs with USDA inspection. The unit supports the economic viability of small-scale farming while strengthening the local food system. The farmers' cooperative includes members from San Juan, Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Sustainable Northwest, based in Portland, Oregon, promotes environmentally compatible economic development in the Pacific Northwest. Sustainable Northwest created the Founders of a New Northwest program in 1997 to recognize individuals, businesses and communities working to reconcile individual well-being, community vitality, economic progress and environmental health.

To date, Sustainable Northwest has recognized 140 Founders, including farmers, ranchers, foresters, businesspeople, community activists, chefs, teachers, filmmakers, scientists and government agency personnel. Recipients of the Founders award are selected by an independent committee recruited from businesses, government, non-profit organizations and educational institutions.

Lopez Community Land Trust and Island Grown Farmers' Cooperative will be profiled along with 23 other Founders in a book to be published by Sustainable Northwest in May 2003. The Founders award profiles are also available free of charge from sustainablenorthwest.org

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