To celebrate its 50th anniversary and its continued support of local, organic agriculture, Skagit Valley Food Co-op in Mt. Vernon, Wash., has donated $100,000 to Viva Farms, a farm business incubator and training program.

In a press release announcing the donation, Skagit Valley said: “The co-op has been supporting local producers and giving back to community since 1973, and we could not imagine a more powerful way to continue our commitment as we head into the next 50 [years] than this new partnership with Viva Farms and our Growing Good Fund. The Board established the Growing Good Fund to cement the Co-op’s legacy in the Valley, with a strong focus on the cooperative principle ‘Concern for Community.’”

The co-op already has a long history partnering with local farmers and supporting healthy food choices. So, the decision to dedicate funds to Viva Farms was a natural one, since the groundwork had already been laid.

Founded in 2009, Viva Farms is a nonprofit organic farm and beginning-farmer support organization with a mission “to preserve sustainable farming and create a resilient and just local food system.” Viva Farms empowers beginning and historically underserved farmers by providing bilingual (Spanish-English) training in organic farming, along with access to essential start-up resources, such as equipment infrastructure, capital and access to markets.

Viva Farms is creating a succession plan in response to a current generational crisis: the rapid loss of farmland and skilled farmers, and increased food needs. Viva Farms provides training in sustainable and organic agricultural practices to the next generation of farmers. Viva is also committed to increasing healthy food access through discounts and sliding scale pricing to individuals and food banks.

“For these reasons, it only makes sense that the co-op has been working with and contributing to Viva Farms for years,” Skagit Valley’s press release said. “We are excited to take what has already been a meaningful partnership to the next level. $100,000 is the largest single donation Viva has ever received, and we feel certain the impact will carry well into the future.”

Part of the co-op’s partnership with Viva Farms also includes opportunities for the public to learn more about farming in Skagit Valley. Later this month, the co-op will host an event, “Feeding Skagit Forever,” which will give people the opportunity to learn about Viva Farms and meet local farmers who have participated in Viva’s programming.

Read more about Viva Farms and Skagit Valley Co-op’s historic donation here.