Glossary of Terms
Buyer
The person(s) in a business who are responsible for purchasing products for food processing, wholesale distribution, or retailing to consumers.
Community Portal
A community portal is a link/pathway on the PSFN web site. It is located in Resources. This pathway takes the site’s users to individual community pages where they can find information about a specific community’s food system.
CSA
Community Supported Agriculture is a food system distribution method in which a consumer pre-pays a farmer for a full season’s produce. Once produce is available, the consumer picks up an agreed upon amount/box size of produce at a predetermined location.
Fair, negotiated price
A price that acknowledges and respects a business’ (farmer, processor, distributor, or retailer) need to receive a price that covers their costs plus a rate of return that sustains the business.
Food system
A food system includes all processes involved in feeding a population: growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consumption, and disposal of food and food-related items.
Forum
This is an area located in the Marketplace section of the PSFN website. It is an area where Members can exchange information, thoughts, and ideas.
Fresh Sheet
Accessed from our Marketplace section, this sheet provides up-to-date product availability for local food businesses.
Local agriculture
The production chain of agricultural producers, packers, processors, distributors and supporting infrastructure as defined by the boundaries of a geographic location that is self or group specified. It’s important to remember that families, workers, teachers, and many more people are a part of local agriculture and our agricultural communities.
Marketplace
The PSFN Marketplace is our web site destination where local and regional buyers and sellers can meet and conduct business. The Marketplace contains Member Profiles, product Seasonality Charts, Fresh Sheets, Buy/Sell Request forms, and a Forum which provides an opportunity for Members to share current events, thoughts, and ideas.
Members
Members of PSFN are those businesses or individuals who have registered with PSFN, completed an information review, paid the required dues and have been confirmed as an approved Member.
Member Profile
This is a page dedicated to each Member. It is managed by the Member and contains contact, product, and marketing information.
Natural
Minimally processed and not containing refined ingredients.
Network Search
This is the Puget Sound Food Network’s web site search function located on the Home Page. It will help the user find specific products and providers.
Organic
Product grown or processed in a manner that meets certified organic growing standards as set bythe Washington State Department of Agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture.
Partners
PSFN partners include members who have arranged advertising agreements, sponsorships, or have otherwise contributed to the growth of PSFN.
Price negotiation
The process between two parties in which a fair and agreeable price is determined.
Producer
A grower of crops, livestock, or poultry.
Research
Up to date information on the latest developments in local food production, distribution, and economies.
Seasonality Charts
These charts are can be accessed on the Marketplace page and include locally produced agricultural products and when they typically become available in the Puget Sound region.
Sustainability
A measure of maintaining a successful, diverse, healthy, and regenerative ecosystem.