Local Farm to Be Bulldozed
While this story is coming from just outside Tacoma and, therefore, not our typical city focus, it’s also very relevant to everybody concerned about local foodshed issues. So with that in mind, here’s a little something …
In Fife, there are 20 acres of land currently being used to grow premium blackberries, late season raspberries and pumpkins. The acreage had been leased to George Richter Farm and the operation was recently puchased by Sterino Farms following the death of George Richter this past winter.
Although the lease was intended to last until the end of September, American Fast Freight, the owners of the property, exercised a 90-day notice clause to terminate the lease early to develop the property. When the building permit from the City of Fife came through a bit earlier than expected the company decided to go full speed ahead to level the fields.
Although Jake Sterino has repeatedly asked for just 30 more days, the company still plans to bring in the bulldozers on Monday, August 25th. The loss to the farmers is conservatively estimated at $150,000 in wholesale revenue that could be realized with just the few extra weeks.
From the Pierce County Farm Board:
“What is happening to the 20 acres farmed by Jake Sterino and George Richter Farms is distasteful because the crop is valuable for more than monetary reasons. This crop is represents the best of our region and is valuable to the community. It’s a shame that American Fast Freight can’t wait for the harvest.”
Komo4 News was at the farm this morning and plans on returning this evening for a live broadcast. They also plan on being at the farm when the bulldozers start rolling in.
It’s hard for any artisan to see something they’ve created get destroyed. Best of luck to the farmers.
UPDATE – Sunday @ 9:15 pm
From the American Fast Freight Website
Working to save farmer’s crop
AFF has postponed development of land in favor of farmer’s harvest.
Filed under: Eating-Local, General
29 comments
S Sarah August 22, 2008
For those interested in showing support…
Komo News 4 will be broadcasting live from the field tonight (Friday) at 5:30/6:00 pm. Watch live or come on out to support the farmer (I’ll be there at 5:30)!
The field is located just north of N Levee Rd E in Fife. Coming from I-5 exit, go through first light by Fife City Hall which is Valley, continue on Valley, Right on 70th, head down to 45th… or from N Levee Rd, take 70th N and go east on 45th St Ct. For a map paste this address into your browser:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=fife,+wa&ie=UTF8&layer=x&ll=47.218898,-122.342205&spn=0.053924,0.10437&z=14
PS- letters to editors are a good way to show support too.
R RR Anderson August 22, 2008
lay in front of the dozers Aurthur Dent style! we don’t need anymore bypasses !
M Mr.Sniggles August 22, 2008
Who needs fertile soil and fresh farm goods when you can have smooth flat cement and pristine warehouses. Don’t stand in the way of progress!
T Thorax O'Tool August 22, 2008
I’m not opposed to cities trying to better themselves through development. I think Fife really should work hard to better themselves, and to that I say more power to them.
I am, however, opposed to cities allowing wanton destruction of farmland just for another industrial park or suburban development. I used to go to Sterino’s at least weekly back when the stand on 20th was open.
I like Jake Sterino, he is a good man, and I was happy to patronize him.
Shame on American Fast Freight, Shame on the developers, and shame on the City of Fife.
In an age of increasing sprawl and rising food prices, the last thing we need is valuable farmland paved over.
O okobojicat August 22, 2008
As someone who used to commute every day on Levee Road, any more development without a plan on how to change that road is absolutely ridiculous. That road is dangerous for two cars to go past each other, two trucks is a death trap.
This sounds like a stupid policy by Fast Freight.
Finally, I work right on the Levee Road/Frank Albert corner, and there has been a sign up all week they are doing work on Levee Road, so I suggest you come in from the other way. Down from 167/161 or from Valley Ave.
J Jenyum August 23, 2008
Well, there were no Arthur Dent style dramatics, but KOMO did come and do a segment. I just posted an update.
D Dave Zink August 23, 2008
Across our state, enormous amounts of photosynthetic surface (forests, agricultural land, wetlands, etc.) are being bulldozed, converted into non- photosynthetic, or degraded to much less- photosynthetic surface (malls, condos, parking lots, etc.).
We are losing an appalling amount of productive land to sprawl at an alarming rate.
We need to do a better job of waking folks up to the unsustainable practices perpetrated by developers and overly compliant permitting agencies at local governmental levels. Education on these issues will help citizens connect the dots between “development”, global climate change, and air quality. Increased clarification will help people come to grips with, and hopefully slow, sprawl and destruction of our agricultural land.
Many wetlands, forests, and other land has often classified as “non-significant” simply because no endangered species were found on that acreage. This often is enough to allow the land to be destroyed (“developed”). But is the presence or absence of endangered species the only consideration? Viewed in the light of the tons of carbon sequestered, with the challenges we face re: trying to deal with global climate change, and maintaining air quality, this land becomes truly “significant”. With this in mind, it may be appropriate to re-evaluate the definition of “significant”.
What is the dollar value of an annual adult human oxygen requirement? What is the price tag of a ton of carbon sequestered? It is difficult to assign dollar prices to any of this. One thing we can agree on, however, is that these services provided by agricultural land and forests are significant, valuable, and should not be destroyed for narrow, economic, corporate purposes.
M Mofo from the Hood August 23, 2008
Thirty years ago if you worked in downtown Tacoma and at the end of the day you wanted to relax in the countryside, you only had to drive a few miles beyond the Puyallup River Bridge into Fife. Between Highway 99 and east to the Puyallup River and even on through to Puyallup, Sumner, Orting, and to as far as you might care to go, the natural scenery of farmlands offered a measure of visual relaxation for those who like me, wanted to get away from Tacoma, at least for a couple of hours.
At that time, thirty years ago, if you worked downtown like I did, in a fast-paced manufacturing company, the thought of escaping Tacoma after work was shared by many. Many of us did escape, whether by car or motorcycle, to more peaceful countryside surroundings. Those peaceful surroundings were close by and enjoyable, and after an afternoon excursion of fresh air, you could quite readily carry on the next day with just that little bit of relief.
What I’m saying is that until fairly recently, there was an exit for relief from Tacoma. But day by day for the past thirty years I’ve watched, and if you stay then you will watch, as seemingly uncontrollable forces continue to build, brick by brick, a series of power systems that may eventually prevent anyone from anymore thoughts of relief and relaxation by travel to nearby countryside—-No more countryside, no more thoughts of escape. Look around if you dare. Are you ready to face the prospect of no exit?
P pongo August 24, 2008
this is the “development” and “growth” that the corporations and government who run this society offer us: more bulldozed farms, less forest, less breathable air, more concrete, more money in the hands of the wealth few.
this is their dream (our nightmare) they are subjecting all living beings on the earth to. and they try to convince us there is no use fighting it, there is no alternative.
but we can organize against things like this. it takes a handful of dedicated neighbors, friends, families, lovers, strangers to work together to stop the elites from imposing their nightmare on us and destroying our dreams for a livable, sustainable future for our children and all living creatures.
we can organize against the system, starting by taking a stand to protect this farmland.
T Thorax O'Tool August 24, 2008
A great many folks, dare I say even a majority are NIMBYs and even BANANAs because of behavior like this from developers. Practically no one likes seeing industrial parks and subdivisions going up.
But if a sizable amount of the people dislike it, why does this keep happening?
Because We (the people) either keep our mouths shut or don’t even know what’s going on. The “independent” media is a joke, it’s nearly all corporate… just look at the Trib for a glaring example. It’s not in the best interest of the Corporate Masters to let us peons know things that could potentially hurt profits. It’s in the cities’ interest to listen to the citizenry, but unless we can speak louder than the developer’s dollars, we’ll be ignored… after all, who do you thing most politicians get their news from? The media or their constituents? Last I checked the general public wasn’t circulating 110,000 copies a day.
Only way anything is going to change is if the People start getting loud. Spread the word, shout it from the rooftops. Get people to actually get off their asses and away from the Xboxes long enough to care about their communities, their neighbors and their futures. I don’t have to be the first to explain how grassroots works, or how pressure from the public makes stuff happen; we should all know this by now.
It’s time we got off our collective asses. It’s hard to coordinate, we all have jobs and homes, we have obligations.
I say it’s time we weeded a few things from our lives (TV? Internet?) for a day or two and use that time for the bettering of our lives.
Monday, August 25th. 5:30 pm: I’m there. Who will join me?
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
Thorax: Where?
And I just posted another update. Help still may be needed tomorrow morning.
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
I am pleased to report that the crop will be saved! Just posted yet another update. Sorry about all the updates, but things have moved fast!
T Thorax O'Tool August 25, 2008
Well, I was actually planning on just going down to the farm.
But in light of recent developments, it looks as though grassroots in Fife are not needed…. for now.
It’s a great victory for Sterino and the community, but it’s only a delay. Ultimately that good soil will sit under 5” of concrete.
Hey, is there any kind of citizen’s action group for preventing/reducing sprawl?
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
Well, if you really wanted it to “stick” you’d have to change the zoning on the land to not allow uses other than agricultural. Oregon has quite a system for keeping their agricultural and forest land, but I don’t see it happening here on a state level.
Probably work needs to be done with the cities of Fife and Puyallup to change zoning and land use regulations. It’s tricky, though, you (or we) would be messing with the property rights of families that may be counting on the ability to sell the land for other uses. There may be mortgages already that were taken out in reliance upon a value the land wouldn’t have if the laws changed.
Not that it isn’t worth doing, by any stretch of the imagination, it’s just a huge kettle of fish and I wish it had been done decades ago when some of these issues weren’t a problem.
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
If you look at the City of Fife zoning map, currently the whole area near the Richter Farm is zoned Industrial and “Community Commercial.” There are other small farms in the area and likely they will all be gone in another decade or two if the city sees no point in retaining agricultural uses.
http://www.cityoffife.org/include/downloads/community_development/zoning_map_small.jpg
The City of Puyallup does have a future land use map which appears to show “agricultural overlay” in some areas, but I notice that these areas are also set aside for commercial use so I’m not sure what to make of it.
I can’t actually blame the families for using the value of their land in the present economy, however. A real solution that didn’t leave someone hurting would probably require an influx of money from somewhere. Like so many things.
I’m very serious that real changes in land use regulations have to be made to prevent the loss of more farmland. For anyone who wants to really do something about this issue that is where your energies should be directed.
Do all the shouting from the rooftops you want, sadly it will not actually change anything.
W Whitney staff August 25, 2008
As much as we consider development in the Puyallup Valley to be sprawl, it is within the designated Urban Growth Boundary. Changing the zoning and land use code will be very difficult.
The best way to preserve these farmers is to buy from them. Many of them value their way of life and would like to avoid selling. If they can make ends meet and be able to pay for their kids to go to school, our farmers should be able to stick around.
The other way to help these farmers is to support the funding of the PDR/TDR legislation the County Council passed last year. This legislation would allow the county to purchase development rights of farmland, therefor removing the incentive to sell to developers. However, this great program currently has no money.
A am August 25, 2008
So how do we influence the change of land use regulations?
It is incredible that such fertile land is zoned for commercial / industrial purposes.
How does the average citizen support the funding of the PDR / TDR legislation besides voting? We have no money to donate. I would fully support the city to divert funds away from building sculptures (ie new Mason sculpture) if it meant the money were to be used to protect our future and farmland…
In addition, I would support a proposition to change land use regulation.
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
Personally, I think it’s a huge mistake to include this land within the urban growth boundary. For one thing, at some point Tahoma will shrug her shoulders again and we’ll all wonder what genius allowed the area to be so dense people can’t get out of the way.
L lydia August 25, 2008
I saw this on the morning news and my heart was sickened. I am glad they are going to let them harvest what they have been working on for so long. I wished I could see them harvest for many years to come. I have lived here in this area my whole 35 years of existence and every time I see a farm I used to pick berries at as a child, or bought produce from when I was young get paved over my heart heavies in my chest. As my husband and I were driving by the Faith Dairy yesterday, I always love to daydream out my window, looking at that open lovely land, I saw a sign across the street from the old dairy. “for sale 10 acres, subdivide” BLECH!!!
If anyone finds a way to stand up as a community to say STOP! Count me in.
W Whitney staff August 25, 2008
Everyone who has spoken out here and about this issue: There is something you can do. Send an email to your County Councilmember and tell them its important to you. Especially as they start looking at the budget. They are the one’s who have the power to do something about it.
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
Specifically:
Ask your county council member to fund a staff position to administer the PDR/TDR program. Emphasize that although money is tight right now, now more than ever we need to act quickly to prevent the sale of irreplaceable farm land.
Funding a staff position is an important first step.
To find out who your county council member is, go here:
http://yakima401.co.pierce.wa.us/council/mapsearch.htm
M Mr.Sniggles August 25, 2008
Everyone who has spoken out here and about this issue, there is something you can do:
Consume less.
Buy local.
Put your money where your mouth is.
J Jenyum August 25, 2008
All of my money already goes in my mouth, which is the case for many in Pierce County right now. Buying local is important but unfortunately not sufficient.
On another note….just received an update from the Farmbudsman to the effect that we all celebrated too soon. AFF pulled their statement, and now says they will negotiate through this week and have not yet decided what they will do.
M me August 25, 2008
will people still be meeting up at the farm this week? i’m interested in meeting up with people who want to see this farm last for as long as possible, maybe we can even go beyond that. i’m tired (and i’m not the only one) of all the sprawl as well, and this is a perfect oppurtunity for people to start expressing their rage towards these types of companies that continually cover our world in concrete. we can’t let this go unnoticed.
can we all meet at the farm before its too late?
T Thorax O'Tool August 26, 2008
Meeting @ the farm is still a good idea, but without any kind of timetable from AFF, we’re just a bunch of random people hanging out at the farm… If we want to be heard, it has to be at a time and place where those we want to reach happen to be looking.
But even then, we still need to think bigger, as this really isn’t some isolated incident. A drive through Fife will prove that point.
Some sort of regional organization of concerned citizens is really needed.
J Jenyum August 26, 2008
There is something like that brewing up right now. I hope to have an update soon with news about a larger plan, something we can participate in.
A Ava August 26, 2008
Can someone that knows Jake Sterino see what the plans are for the berries? Can we at least have a community dig out and distribute the plants to local gardeners that will keep them going?
Perhaps there is someone who has some land would like to start a berry farm?
Lets look for new solutions!
Ava
J Jenyum August 26, 2008
Ava @28:
I posed your question about plant salvaging to the Farmbudsman. She had apparently asked Jake Sterino the same thing, he has been salvaging some of the root stock and will do more, but does not need help on that front right now.
K Katie August 28, 2008
Hi all, I just talked with the main guy from AFF who went to extra lengths to see if I (a normal homeowner in Puyallup) could go and dig up some of the berry vines. He was very accomodating and the end result is that the beekeeper on the property (who has to move the bees that aren’t happy with being disturbed) is really concerned with liability of someone being stung. The AFF guy (Mr. Schuller) has been working all day to get nonprofit groups out there (who are able to dig/transplant, or collect pumpkins for animal food because they can legally sign a release waiver) and none of them have been able to mobilize enough people yet. Just wanted you all to know another part of the story.