06/04/08 Washington farmer wins $10,000 AFT stewardship award

Washington Ag June 4, 2008 American Farmland Trust has chosen Nash Huber of Nash's Organic Produce in Sequim, Washington, for its annual Steward of the Land Award. Nash and his team grow more than 100 types of produce, pasture raised pork, and seed crops on 400 sustainably managed acres in the Dungeness River Valley-a unique micro-climate that allows year round production. The farm products are sold directly to the public through Nash's Farm Store, a Community Supported Agriculture program, local restaurants and five area farmers' markets. Huber will receive the $10,000 AFT prize for his environmental stewardship and for farmland protection efforts, which he says you have to be active in. Huber: "You have to be I think given what has happened to agriculture all over western Washington. You have to be an advocate for agriculture and for conservation of the resources. You know the water, the land and the people." Huber has created a training ground for future farmers with his core team of women and men who are growing healthy food, supporting their local economy, protecting the environment, and providing wildlife and salmon habitat. Ralph Grossi, president of American Farmland Trust, says it is fantastic to honor a producer like Nash since he does so much to take care of farmland to protect it for future generations. I'm Bob Hoff.