Whatcom County, Washington – A new publication focusing on food, farms and more in the great Northwest, will debut next week. Locally owned and operated, Grow Northwest Magazine will publish bi-monthly (six times a year), with the first issue out in May. The magazine will highlight the diverse offerings of farmers and food producers, all grown or made in the Northwest.

“Everything from produce, dairy, meats and seafood, to items such as BBQ sauce, cereal, chocolate, ice cream and drinks,” Co-Publisher Becca Schwarz Cole said. “If it’s grown or made in the Northwest, we’ll cover it.”

In addition to local food and farms, the magazine will publish other features including DIY projects, sustainable living, seasonal cooking and recipes, locavore travel adventures, gardening, crafts, events, and profiles of organizations and artisans – all with a local angle.

“The Northwest has so much to offer in terms of food production, sustainable living and the DIY ethic. There is real passion here for supporting the local economy and those who grow, make, produce and create,” she said. “The magazine will be a go-to guide for those people who enjoy these things and live by them.”

Initially, the magazine will generally cover Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties, but also include information from neighboring counties and lower B.C. “As we grow, we will expand our coverage area. What you can find within 150 miles is staggering. We are receiving inquiries from all over the Puget Sound-North Cascades region – both producers looking to market their items and residents wanting to know more about what’s out there.”

The magazine’s website (still under construction) will feature all of the information included in the print issues, as well as food directories by county, blogs, events and other features.

“Like many in the Northwest, our family is very passionate about local food, farms and artisans,” she said. “We have been wanting to launch this for a couple years now, and are excited to get this off the ground. The amount of interest and support already has been amazing.”

Grow Northwest Magazine is locally owned and operated by Whatcom County residents Becca Schwarz Cole and Brent Cole. The husband-wife team also publishes What’s Up! Magazine, which just celebrated its 12th anniversary, and the Foothills Gazette, started in 2005.

The free publication will be sustained by advertising, with subscriptions and donations by readers who wish to do so. Advertising information and a media kit are posted online.

For more information, contact Grow Northwest Magazine at (360) 599-3320 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Mail can be sent to P. O. Box 1907 Maple Falls, WA 98266. Additional information will be published on the magazine’s website at www.grownorthwest.com. Anyone interested in following the magazine via Facebook can visit the Grow Northwest Magazine fan page.

A launch party for Grow Northwest will be held on Saturday, May 29 at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham. The event will start at 3 p.m. and feature live music and prizes. All are welcome.

For advertising information, general inquiries, or to add your business or organization as a distribution point for the magazine, please contact the office.