Sims to encourage more marketing connections between farmers, restaurants at Seattle event

King County Executive Ron Sims next week will link the health of King County's rural way of life with Seattle's world class restaurants.

As a keynote speaker at the first annual Seattle Farmer-Chef Connection event, set Monday at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle, Sims is expected to affirm his commitment to preserving and strengthening the rural way of life in King County and outline how the farmer-chef connection is a critical element to making that happen.

"As much as we can, we need to strengthen the relationship between farmers and buyers, whether those buyers are individuals at farmers markets, or the terrific restaurants in downtown Seattle," Sims said. "When a chef supports a local farmer, farmland is saved. The grower makes money and is less likely to convert the farm for other uses. The farmer-chef connection is a critical link in farmland preservation.

"We all benefit from thriving rural lands, whether we are the farmer who grows crops, the chef who buys the farmer's products, or the restaurant-goer who enjoys a great meal made with fresh, locally grown ingredients."

The day-long Seattle Farmer-Connection is billed as a chance to foster collaboration and direct marketing opportunities for local farmers, ranchers, chefs and retailers who are committed to expanding and strengthening local and seasonal food networks.

"Each new relationship that comes from this event further strengthens the health of King County's rural economy and greatly enhances the flavor of our local community of restaurants," Sims said.

"The learning and relationships gained at this conference will result in significant dollars going back to the farm," said Debra Sohm-Lawson, director of Ecotrust's Food and Farms Program. "This conference has proven to open doors. It's a safe and comfortable place for open discussions and relationship building that in turn supports business development."

Sims has long advocated for preserving farmland and supporting local farmers. He helped launch the Puget Sound Fresh program in 1998 to encourage consumers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to seek out and purchase locally grown products.

King County's Farmland Preservation Program was the first voter-approved measure in the nation to protect agriculture in a metropolitan area. More than 13,000 acres have been protected under the program, which was approved in 1979.

The Seattle Farmer-Chef Connection event is sponsored by: Cascade Harvest Coalition, King County, Ecotrust, Chef's Collaborative, Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Market Association, Washington State Farmers Market Association, Washington State Department of Agriculture, WSU Extension-King County, WSU Small Farms Team.

For more information about the Seattle Farmer-Chef Connection, visit
http://www.farmerchefconnection.org. For more details about Puget Sound Fresh, click on http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/.