Fresh, seasonal produce available as farmers markets begin opening across King County

Buying local, farm-fresh products reduces carbon footprint

Celebrate spring with fresh, healthy and locally grown produce and other agricultural products as King County farmers markets open for the season.

While some markets won't begin their seasons until June, about 20 of the 35 farmers markets that are scheduled to operate in 2008 are either already open for business, or will be opening in early May.

Farmers markets are already up and running in Seattle, Vashon and Issaquah. To find a farmers market, get recipes, find a farm, or sign up for the “What’s Fresh” e-mail visit www.pugetsoundfresh.org (external link).

This year, Columbia City market will celebrate 10 years in South Seattle’s Rainier Valley when it begins its season on Wednesday, April 30. Columbia City and other established markets will be joined this year by new markets sprouting in SeaTac, Mercer Island, Covington and Sammamish.

Fresh at the markets now are hardy salad greens, root crops like potatoes and turnips, eggs, meats, and more Farmer grown and produced cheese and wine are also available.

Purchasing locally produced food at farmers markets not only means getting the freshest products possible, but it also strengthens the region’s agricultural communities and reduces our carbon footprint.

With food coming from locally owned farms, there’s less energy used getting the food from farm to table, no special packaging required for long distance transport, and no refrigeration needed for transit or at distribution warehouses and grocery stores. Shoppers can also take it a step further by bringing reusable bags to carry home their farm-fresh purchases.

King County Executive Ron Sims helped establish the infrastructure for the current network of farmers markets when he worked to get the Puget Sound Fresh program started in 1998.

The network was created to encourage citizens, wholesalers and retailers to seek out locally grown products, and to provide funding and technical assistance to farmers markets.

Puget Sound Fresh was created by the King County Agriculture Commission and is supported through a partnership between King County, the Cascade Harvest Coalition and Snohomish County.

For more information about King County farmers markets visit www.pugetsoundfresh.org (external link) or contact Karen Kinney at 206-263-6429.

Related Information:

Agriculture in King County, Washington

Northwest Yard and Garden