1. FARE Idaho detail
2. Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center detail

FARE Idaho, which advocates for independent food and beverage businesses and small farms, has a new executive director.

Tammie Halcomb has succeeded Katie Baker, who now works as grants manager for the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center. The center has ties to FARE.

Halcomb previously worked in economic development for the City of Eagle and for Canyon County. Earlier, she was a photographer and marketing professional specializing in small business.

Baker was instrumental in founding FARE — officially the Idaho Independent Food, Agriculture, Restaurant and Beverage Establishment Alliance — in 2020. It was the country’s first nonprofit trade association structured around the local food system, according to a news release from the organization.

She, the board and others grew membership to more than 400, started the annual Field to Fork Festival in downtown Boise and helped to provide support and member benefits for independent food and beverage businesses.

FARE, which has a lobbyist at the Idaho Legislature, has advocated for legislation that helps restaurants, bars and small farms.

“We have worked tirelessly over the last four years to craft an organization that truly serves the needs of Idaho’s food and beverage industry from field to fork,” board president Rocci Johnson said in the release. “We are very excited about taking our work to the next level with Tammie as our executive director.”

The job “presents an incredible opportunity to further a mission that I am passionate about, and I look forward to contributing to and expanding the great work already underway,” Halcomb said.

The local food industry gained strength during and after the COVID-19 pandemic but has ongoing needs with which FARE can help, Halcomb and Baker told Capital Press.

Offering health and dental insurance to members has been the subject of ongoing discussions, Baker said. FARE would offer the coverage through an insurance carrier. Approval from the state Department of Insurance would be required.

Halcomb aims to survey members on topics such as their own needs, legislative advocacy, and potential events that best benefit them or most effectively create more awareness about the local food system, she said.

“I would like to build awareness of the economic impact of our food system,” she said. “The ag sector has been a main driver of the state’s economy since Idaho’s inception.”

Producing an annual report, possibly in conjunction with an event, is a goal, Halcomb said. The report would cover “agriculture, restaurants and everybody in between.”

Economic development work often focuses on community or region, and includes small-business support that helps to bolster the economy, she said. In a nonprofit trade association, supporting a specific membership is primary.

With FARE, “it’s an easy blend of economic development and support,” Halcomb said. “I do intend to blend the two to serve the membership.”

“Katie has done such an incredible job, and she’s left gigantic shoes for me to fill,” she said.

The Northwest and Rocky Mountain is one of 12 USDA regional food business centers. The University of Idaho, in partnership with FARE, leads the Idaho team.