Thinking Outside Of The Box

The jewel in the crown of sustainable design is food – local food. Teri McKenzie, founder of the Inland Northwest Food Network, discusses the exciting possibilities of developing this network for our region. “The Inland NW Food Network is committed to growing a resilient, environmentally responsible, and cohesive regional food system in the Inland NW – from Spokane to the Canadian border and parts of Western Montana. Our tagline is Connecting People, Place, Food, and Farms.” Recently, she visited Sandpoint to share her vision of the Network and explore the possibilities of creating a regional Food Hub that would connect farmers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Food hubs are well developed in some regions but we haven’t created one locally. In this interview, she shares her ideas and encourages us all to make the connections we need to expand the possibilities for our region. Based in Coeur d’Alene, the group hosts monthly meetings, offers educational programs, and m