Permanent Business Partners

PASA recognizes permanent business partners
in Western Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH, PA. - The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) recently created a new category of membership, the Permanent Business Partner level, for businesses and nonprofit organizations interested in establishing a long-term relationship with the organization. PASA's commitment to protecting and preserving farmers and farmland across Pennsylvania and beyond is vital to each of their Permanent Business Partner's business philosophies.

Currently PASA has 7 categories of membership, the largest being the Family or Farm category, which encompasses 2,647 members. A business can become a Permanent Business Partner by making a one-time membership dues payment to PASA. Brian Snyder, executive director of PASA said "We created this level of business membership after hearing regional businesses wanted to make a long-term commitment to sustainability. This category of membership also alleviated the need for them to make yearly membership dues payments."

Currently PASA has six Permanent Business Partners, with three located in Western Pennsylvania, including Allegheny and Fayette counties. (The other three are located in Southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware). Representatives from PASA recently traveled to all three businesses to deliver new Permanent Business Partner signage they can display at their locations.

These businesses include Blackberry Meadows Farm, East End Food Cooperative and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Below is a short description of each outstanding member:

Blackberry Meadows Farm, Natrona Heights
Blackberry Meadows Farm was first certified organic in 1992 and has since provided the Pittsburgh area with fresh fruits and vegetables. Their produce is available through a Community Supported Agriculture program, the East End Food Cooperative and three urban farmers' markets.www.blackberrymeadows.com

Blackberry Meadows: Blackberry Meadows Farm, located in Natrona Heights is a Permanent Business Partner of PASA's. Recently Leah Smith (right), PASA's western region member services manager, presented a sign to farm partners Heath Gamache (left) and Greg Boulos (center).

East End Food Cooperative, Pittsburgh
The East End Food Co-op is Pittsburgh's only member-owned natural and organic food market, serving the community since 1977. Their goal is to create, promote and sustain a healthy, strong and vibrant local community that serves the need for physical wellbeing, mutual respect, social connectedness and economic vitality while ensuring sustainability in the use of all resources toward this end. www.eastendfoodcoop.org

East End Food Cooperative: Leah Smith, PASA’s western region member services manager, recently presented a sign to one of PASA’s Permanent Business Partners, East End Food Cooperative based in Pittsburgh. Kara Holsopple, East End’s member services manager was on hand to accept.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, located in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, is one of only 21 hotels and resorts in the world to host AAA Five-Diamond lodging and dining. Nestled on 2,000 wooded acres, the resort is striving to source locally produced foods for their dining facilities. www.nemacolin.com

Nemacolin: Leah Smith, PASA’s western region member services manager, presents signage to representatives of Permanent Business Partner, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort; Chefs Paul Hasler & Kristin Butterworth; along with Sarah Graham, PASA member communications assistant.