From Field to Fork

Josh Davis, owner of JD’s Bodega, was an early advocate of FARE Idaho.

PHOTO COURTESY JD’S BODEGA

FARE Idaho Grows a Lifeline for Idaho’s Independent Food and Beverage Companies

BY: SAMANTHA STETZER

What if there was a way for Idaho’s independent food and beverage businesses to create meaningful networks of support, advocacy, and connection — an opportunity to have a seat at the proverbial table while simultaneously providing the menu for it?

As of March 2020, that’s the mission of FARE Idaho. Executive Director of FARE Idaho, Katie Baker, explains that the advocacy and support group is a 501(C)(6) organization born out of the pandemic. “We realized that we had to turn a moment into a movement and just not let the pandemic or crisis go to waste,” Baker says. “We created FARE to advocate on behalf of independent food and beverage businesses.”

FARE Idaho Executive Director Katie Baker poses for a photo with The Funky Taco co-owner Justin Archambo.

PHOTO COURTESY MARI ISAAC/FARE IDAHO

Its mission is mirrored in the name. FARE means “food, agriculture, restaurant, and beverage establishments. Members pay a fee to join and in return, they receive major support. FARE has done everything from partnering with independent food and beverage companies across Idaho and creating opportunities for local sourcing within restaurants and stores, to lobbying for grant money and liquor license fairness, even hiring a lobbyist. Among its recent accomplishments, FARE partnered with insurance agents to provide health insurance options for restaurant employees.

As it has grown, membership has expanded, too. Josh Davis, owner of JD’s Bodega in downtown Boise, joined FARE at the group’s inception, and he’s been integral in looping in other members, including Spacebar Arcade co-owners Will Hay and Zack Rowland. As a local, small business owner in Boise, Davis says he sees a proactive connection between FARE and the local economy, ensuring where we could find information and share resources,” Davis says. “They were looking specifically after the independents, and it seemed like a natural fit to get involved.” Davis admits that JD’s Bodega is slightly out of the scope of FARE, but that’s the beauty of the network. As a retailer, Davis explains that FARE has helped partner the bodega with local producers to procure local products for the store.

...our goal was to create a that consumers, producers, and sellers can support each other. more resilient food system “We just needed a place here in Idaho, and connect our retailers with our producers.

As Baker explains, there is only one criteria for membership in FARE. “We represent everything from field to fork, so our goal was to create a more resilient food system here in Idaho, and connect our retailers with our producers,” Baker says.

Local sourcing is a pressing need, explains Happy Day Restaurants President Tobe Finch. Happy Day operates franchises, their own restaurants, and a catering and event business out of Lewiston, Idaho, with restaurant locations across northern-central Idaho. Finch was introduced to FARE through a peer restaurant owner, but he admits, at first, that he was unsure if the group could offer him benefits. The motivation to connect with FARE came from his growing concerns about supply chain demands and the reliance restaurants have on sources outside Idaho. Indeed, these issues were exacerbated during the pandemic. Happy Day had preparations in place, but Finch knew there had to be another solution.

“We need to strengthen our small communities,” Finch explains. “This really serves to strengthen our economy. Our position here is that… all of our money goes somewhere else [when we don’t source locally]. It’s going to California or Seattle or Portland. That money is being invested there.”

For other owners, the problems they need assistance with lie within the state of Idaho. Spacebar’s owners joined FARE after learning about the group from Davis. Hay explains that he saw FARE as an opportunity to create a much-needed voice in the Treasure Valley’s economy. “Everyone is joining and knows things need to change. Becoming a unit with one voice is how to get those things done,” Hay says.

Spacebar Arcade in downtown Boise was an early member of FARE Idaho.

PHOTO COURTESY MARI ISAAC/FARE IDAHO

Hay is hoping that FARE takes on lobbying for change with Idaho’s liquor licensing. Right now, the state only allows two liquor licenses and one more license for every 1,500 residents in each municipality. Boise currently only has 150 licenses, and aspiring applicants must join a very long waitlist.

As a bar owner, Hay calls the law unfair, but he recognizes that other independent owners may disagree. Regardless, it’s one issue among dozens that fall within the scope of FARE. As Baker says, as long as it’s an issue within “food to fork” among Idaho’s independent growers, sellers, retailers, and producers, FARE will be there.

“I don’t know that I’ve been involved with too many organizations that have been as proactive in trying to provide resources for independent businesses, lobbying to make sure we get the protection or support we need,” Davis says.

You can learn more about FARE Idaho online at FAREIdaho.org and read more stories at ProjectFARE.org. Independent citizens can become members of FARE, too.