Farmers market season has a swinging start
Published 3:19 pm Wednesday, June 24, 2015
It’s time to grab your reusable bag, meet your local farmer and choose from an assortment of tasty, nutritious fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and more.
With 19 King County neighborhood farmers markets opening in June – joining the 21 that are already open – the farmers market season is in high gear. By the first week of July, all 41 King County farmers markets will be open.
“King County is now the proud home to more than 40 farmers markets that have become integral to their communities,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are working to strengthen and support our farm-to-table pipeline so that local farms can thrive as a reliable source for fresh, locally grown food for all.”
Supporting local farms is a key component of Constantine’s Local Food Initiative, which is designed to increase access to healthy food.
King County’s farmers markets are thriving. Statistical comparisons between 2013 and 2014 show nearly a 10 percent increase in shoppers from more than 2.1 million to more than 2.3 million (25 markets reporting) and close to an 11 percent increase in farmer sales, from $12.6 million to nearly $14 million (26 markets reporting). These figures don’t include Pike Place Market.
You can find more King County farmers market statistics at www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/agriculture/market-managers.aspx.
Renton and Carnation join 25 other markets accepting EBT cards this year. You can find all the farmers markets accepting EBT cards on the state Farmers Market Association website, www.wafarmersmarkets.com/washingtonfarmersmarketdirectory.php?action=search.
For information about all 41 King County farmers markets – including what days they are open and what farm products are in season – visit the Puget Sound Fresh website at www.pugetsoundfresh.org.
The Puget Sound Fresh program was created by the King County Agriculture Commission and is operated by Cascade Harvest Coalition.
Learn more about King County’s Local Food Initiative at www.kingcounty.gov/exec/local-food.aspx.
