Agriculture services

The time is right to eat local

"The time is right to eat local". Connecting local farmers with urban shoppers and businesses to purchase agricultural and value-added products is one of the keys to sustaining local agriculture. Learn more about the Puget Sound Fresh Program, to join or to find local agricultural products.

King County and its citizens have long been committed to preserving the county's farmlands and farm heritage and offers several programs to help farmers and ranchers to be successful. See the agriculture services website for numerous resources and services the county offers to local farmers.

The county's Agriculture Commission provides expert advice to the county to enhance and promote commercial agriculture in King County.

Forestry services

One-third of King County's land area is forest lands. The preservation of these forests is important for many reasons, including: clean water, flood control, wildlife and fish habitat, recreation, scenic beauty and reducing the impacts of global warming through carbon sequestration. Sustaining the forests and these critical benefits is the primary focus of the King County Forestry Program. Economic incentives, technical information, and educational materials are provided to forest landowners to promote healthy forests.

Forest Stewardship Classes and assistance with Forest Stewardship Plans are offered to interested landowners. These programs help landowners analyze the condition of their trees and undergrowth, design resource enhancement and protection objectives and plan the steps to reach those objectives. For more information about the various projects and programs see the forestry services website.

Learn more:

• Rural Forest Commission
• Forestry Program
• Forest Stewardship Plan
• Forestry Education Program News from the Washington State University King County Extension (external link)
• Resource Protection Incentives via the Public Benefit Rating System & Timber Land Program
• Noxious weed information
• Farmers Market Report
  Identifies financial challenges facing farmers markets that impact their viability and proposes changes to help strengthen operations and facilitate farmer access to the markets.
• FARMS Report - Future of Agriculture Realizing Meaningful Solutions
  Report describes the findings of a study that determining what measures King County and other agencies should take to ensure the continued success of local agriculture.