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Find comprehensive services related to agriculture in King County, Washington including Puget Sound Fresh, drainage assistance, farming best management practices that protect the environment, and the King County Agriculture Commission.

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Farmers Market Access Project

The Farmers Market Access Project (FMAP) is making it easier to buy healthy, locally grown food sold at farmers markets in south King County and central/south Seattle. Funded by a grant, the project was started in the fall of 2010.

The project helps farmers get set up to accept credit/debit/EBT (food stamp) cards and WIC Nutrition Program fruit and vegetable checks at farmers markets. Coordinated by the King County Agriculture Program, this project is a partnership between key stakeholders and state agencies to design and adapt policy about food assistance programs, develop new systems so farmers can accept WIC fruit and vegetable checks.

Farmers selling at the following farmers markets in 2011 are eligible to participate:

Farmers Market
  • Seattle: Columbia City Farmers Market
  • Seattle: Madrona Farmers Market
  • Seattle: Georgetown Farmers Market
  • Burien Farmers Market
  • Federal Way Farmers Market
  • Maple Valley Farmers Market
  • Renton Farmers Market
  • Des Moines Farmers Market
  • Auburn International Farmers Market
  • Kent Farmers Market

Manager Tools

Materials for managers and partner groups to use to help promote these activities at markets.

About this project

The project will provide the following activities

  • Training: to participating WIC Nutrition Program service providers, community organizations, staff, farmers markets and farmers
  • Marketing: to increase awareness of the markets and farmers new capabilities and to participate in a larger campaign
  • Financial incentives: Help with purchasing or leasing equipment, supplies and materials needed to implement the new programs at the farm booths and markets.

Key outcomes of the project include:

  • Increase access to healthy locally, grown food sold at farmers markets in the market communities,
  • Increase awareness of farmers markets' capability to accept food assistance program benefits,
  • Increase capacity of farmers markets and farmers to effectively participate in Basic Food EBT program,
  • Increase capacity of farmers to profitably sell healthy food,
  • Increase demand for healthy, locally grown food sold at farmers markets,
  • Initiate rollout of the WIC Nutrition Program expansion to authorize farmers to accept WIC fruit and vegetable checks at farmers markets.

Advisory Committee

The program is managed by the King County Agriculture Program, with guidance from a multi-partner advisory committee, funding from Public Health — Seattle & King County. The project launched in August 2010 and runs through March 2012. It is made possible by funding from Public Health — Seattle & King County, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and lots of support from the advisory committee:

  • Washington Department of Health, Prevention and Community Health Division
  • WithinReach
  • Washington Department of Social and Health Services, EBT program
  • Public Health — Seattle & King County
  • Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
  • Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
  • Tonnemaker Family Orchards
  • Cascade Harvest Coalition
  • Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources

Project Coordinator:

The project launched in August 2010 and runs through March 2012 and is made possible by funding from Public Health – Seattle & King County and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The Farmers Market Access Project is one of 55 projects awarded by Public Health – Seattle & King County, as part of the national "Communities Putting Prevention to Work" (CPPW) initiative. This 1.5 year grant is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services. CPPW projects support schools, local governments and communities to reduce overweight and obesity rates by increasing healthy eating and physical activity through policy, system and environment changes.