Keep Farmers Farming

Beloved farming non-profit Viva Farms may lose up to 70% of its funding. Join us in donating towards their efforts to keep small farmers afloat for the 2025 season.

Viva Farms empowers aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual training in organic farming practices and access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing, and capital. Established in 2009, it operates on 119 acres of land in Skagit and King Counties. Having trained farmers who currently operate farms across the state, it is serving as a “farm incubator” for 35 small farming businesses this growing season.

February 25, 2025, Viva Farms released the following statement:

“Viva Farms’ future is uncertain. Following recent Executive Orders and changes in the priorities of the federal government, many of our committed and contractually-bound funds are still inaccessible. We are 70% federally funded and have been long-time partners to the USDA; losing this significant portion of our funding could result in limiting our programming and significantly reducing our staff in 2025. Losing any more of it would be detrimental to the future of the organization. Our primary goal is to continue the 2025 farming season for the 35 farm business incubators with as little disruption as possible. 

For years, we have leveraged our expertise and experience to contract with many government programs that empower our staff to train farmers, build creative, replicable models for food supply chains and land access, and strengthen science that supports agricultural viability. These programs also pay farmers and research scientists for their participation in scientific trials, partners for their work interpreting for Spanish-speaking growers and making what we learn together accessible to as many people as possible. 

Viva needs your help. This immediate, emergency funding will ensure Viva’s farmers can farm on-site this season, making sure organic, locally-grown food remains available to you and your family. Support Viva Farms today. Your support is more important than ever.” 

Here at Sno-Isle Food Co-op, staff made the call to chose Viva Farms as our Register Roundup recipient for March 2025. That means you can donate directly to them by rounding up at the register any time you shop in March 2025. Not only can you chose to make a donation by “rounding up” your total-you can give additionally in any dollar amount by letting your cashier know at check out. All funds collected at the register for Viva Farms will be donated directly to them. We will also donate 3% of total sales made on Friday, March 7 as part of our First Fridays initiative. Finally, we as a Co-op will match dollar for dollar the roundups you give up to $1500. We hope these joint efforts result in our biggest monthly give yet.

Learn more about Viva Farms, their programs, and the farmers they support over on their website here.

Above: Broccoli Nectar Farms, Miguel Garcia of Garcia Family Farms, Nelida Martinez of Pure Nelida Farms, Viva Farms logo. Images are shown courtesy of Viva Farms and feature farmers who have participated in the Viva Farms Farm Incubator program.