Set at the foot of the Blue Mountains of Eastern
Washington, nestled amongst the rolling fertile farmland and forested
slopes of the scenic Touchet River Valley, lies the picturesque
community of Dayton. A popular destination reknowned for its abundant
outdoor recreational opportunities, beautifully restored downtown,
world class restaurants and stately historic homes, Dayton, and
surrounding Columbia County, is also a region blessed by a historically
rich culture of great food and wine.
Embracing
this culture, the Port of Columbia is developing Blue Mountain Station,
the world’s very first destination eco-food processing park dedicated
to the recruitment and marketing of artisan food processors, primarily
in the natural and organic sectors. Blue Mountain Station will be the
anchor of a vertically integrated brand program beginning with the
farmer and extending to the processor, the wholesaler, the retailer
and, ultimately, to the quality-minded, health-conscious consumer. The
park will blend sustainable, locally-produced agriculture with artisan
food processing and food tourism in a setting in keeping with the
environmental and architectural integrity of Dayton.
Why Value-Added (Processed) Food?
- “Value
Added agriculture can be a key component of rural economic development,
fostering job growth, economic vitality and local wealth creation.”
- With the continuous shift to a global economy, the international market for value-added products is growing.
Why Natural & Organic?
-
Surging
demand for natural and organic products has transformed a small market
niche into a double-digit growth sector, reaching U.S. sales of $28.2
billion in 2006, up from $23 billion in 2005, a 14.1% increase.
-
“Specialty
and organic foods are the two fastest growing segments of the food
industry. NASFT research shows that sales of specialty food at retail
grew at 13.1% between 2005 and 2006. Organics are growing at a similar
rate, although from a smaller base. And exports of value-added American
products are also increasing, as international buyers recognize the
quality, innovation and taste of foods from small U.S.- based
producers.”
For more information, please click here to go to bluemountainstation.com
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