PORT TOWNSEND — The Organic Seed Alliance has released a new spinach variety called “Abundant Bloomsdale.”
The name is a tribute to the alliance’s predecessor, the Abundant Life Seed Foundation.
“Our newest commercial release exemplifies Organic Seed Alliance’s approach to participatory plant breeding,” said Micaela Colley, executive director of Organic Seed Alliance.
“OSA’s plant breeders worked collaboratively with eight farms on the Olympic Peninsula to develop an exceptional variety for organic farmers.”
Breeding partners included four farms in Port Townsend — Frog Hill Farm, Oatsplanter Farm Seed, Corona Farm, and the Abundant Life Farm — in addition to Nash’s Organic Produce in Sequim and Midori Farm, Old Tarboo Farm and Dharma Ridge Farm in Quilcene.
“Abundant Bloomsdale” spinach is slow to bolt and cold-hardy, and has deeply savoyed — or crinkled — and succulent leaves.
“Abundant Bloomsdale” is available for purchase in seed packets at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Hudson Valley Seed Library, Oatsplanter Farm Seed and E&M Seeds.
A portion of the proceeds will be returned to the alliance’s participatory plant-breeding program.
Young professionals
BLYN — 7 Cedars Casino will host a networking event for Jefferson and Clallam counties’ young professionals in the resort’s Salish Room, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The evening will bring together the North Olympic Peninsula’s two Young Professionals Networks: the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s and the Peninsula Young Professionals Network.
Membership in either group is not required to attend the event, although those interested in joining either organization are encouraged to attend.
For more information, email admin@jeffcountychamber.org or Bbraudri@cityofpa.us.
DECA conference
BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University sent 18 students to compete at the 2015 Collegiate DECA Pacific Northwest Career Development Conference in Victoria from Feb. 28-29, winning three first-place, two second-place and eight third-place awards.
The students competed in business simulations and case studies with varying career focuses such as accounting, hospitality, sports and entertainment, marketing and retail management.
The winners included Elle McGlocklin of Edmonds and Port Angeles, who won first place in marketing management.
Students presented to business professionals from the Victoria area, creating a link between their studies and real-life business scenarios.
Additionally, students were competing to qualify for the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference, scheduled from April 17-21 in Orlando, Fla.
DECA Inc. formerly was known as Distributive Education Clubs of America.
KONP talk guests
PORT ANGELES — Here is this week’s schedule for the 1:05 p.m. to2 p.m. local talk show segment on KONP radio, at 1450 AM, 101.7 FM and www.konp.com on the Internet outside the Port Angeles area.
Station General Manager Todd Ortloff hosts the Monday through Thursday segments.
This week’s scheduled subjects for the programs:
■ Monday: Port of Port Angeles’ composites efforts.
■ Tuesday: Port Angeles School District.
■ Wednesday: In the first segment, Linda Klinefelter discusses the 17th annual Soroptimist Gala Garden Show in Sequim.
In the second segment, Norm Goodin discusses Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
■ Thursday: Clallam County commissioners.