The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) will provide training to tribal fishers in the Columbia Gorge region of Oregon and Washington on food handling techniques and processing requirements with assistance from a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, announced State Director Vicki Walker today.
“Salmon has been at the heart of tribal traditions and economies in this region since time immemorial, and today’s grant from USDA will help tribal members continue to uphold those traditions today and for future generations,” said Walker. “The educational opportunities CRITFC will offer to tribal fishers will improve their access to seafood markets, increasing their revenue and expanding business and employment opportunities in the area.”
Approximately 600 tribal fishers exercise their treaty-reserved fishing rights by harvesting salmon on the Columbia River. Depending on the season and market conditions, tribal fishers can retain their catch for subsistence or sell the salmon through a variety of markets. Sale of tribally caught fish often occurs directly to the public along the river, at farmers’ markets and restaurants, and to wholesalers located in major markets such as Portland and Seattle. With the recently enacted Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), these fishers must adapt their business models to meet new regulatory requirements for food processing and recordkeeping.
With the grant from USDA, CRITFC will provide training and assistance to help tribes and tribal fishers learn about FSMA and adopt the new requirements. These extra steps to document that tribally caught fish are handled and processed at the highest safety and quality standards and in a uniform manner will increase its value on the market. The increased revenue will help tribal members support their families while continuing their traditional fishing practices sustainably and profitably. Tribal fishing also supports tribal and local economies throughout the region as the fishers re-invest their revenue in fuel, food, boat supplies, and other commodities.
In addition, USDA funds will help CRITFC identify community-based commercial food kitchens that meet federal food safety regulations where fishers can access workspace to develop specialized products year-round and learn about recipe development, packaging, labeling, and other product development techniques. This effort will open new opportunities to tribal fishers, increase options for business start-up and expansion, and improve job opportunities.
Today’s funding is being provided through USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program. The program supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas.
This award is part of a nationwide announcement of $3.8 million in grants for 28 projects that will help tribal communities and businesses in 15 states, including two additional grants that will benefit Oregon tribes. Funding of the awards announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
This project led by CRITFC builds on a previous partnership between USDA, Ecotrust, and Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center to provide tribal fishers with assistance in developing specialty products, and on CRITFC’s previous efforts to provide educational opportunities and resources for tribal fishers. These efforts were supported through USDA Value Added Producer Grant and Rural Business Opportunity Grant funding.
Since 2009, USDA has significantly expanded its support for tribes and tribal communities, providing $553.5 million nationwide to build or upgrade more than 300 tribal facilities, as well as $55 million in loans to Native-owned businesses to promote economic development in tribal areas. Overall, Rural Development has provided $3.1 billion for American Indians and Alaska Natives during the seven years of the Obama Administration.