| Mar. 6, 2003
2003 Archived News News Release Puget Sound residents know the freshest produce is locally grown. As a result of the Puget Sound Fresh program to promote these products, purchases at area farmers markets jumped as much as 20 percent in 2002. The boost is attributed to the efforts of the Puget Sound Fresh program, begun in 1998 by King County Executive Ron Sims to encourage consumers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to seek out and purchase locally grown products. A recently released annual report compiled by the Cascade Harvest Coalition, a non-profit partner organization, surveyed regional farmers market managers and concluded market visitor and market revenue increases averaged from 15 to 20 percent in 2002. Sims said the increase is significant because, according to the American Farmland Trust, the Puget Sound region is one of the most threatened farmland regions in the nation. "Over the years, we have protected farmland throughout the Puget Sound area through open space and farmland preservation programs," said Sims, who worked with the King County Agriculture Program on this effort. "But it is vital that we maintain the viability of these farms by supporting the purchase of locally-grown products. We want to send a message that farms are critical to the quality of life we cherish in this region." A 2002 $17,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Small Farm Program furthered the public awareness effort with a campaign to increase consumer preference for locally grown Puget Sound Fresh products. As part of the awareness campaign and community outreach, more than 21,000 brochures with farmers market information were distributed at county fairs, participating farms, the Seattle Cooks! Gourmet Food and Cooking Show, farmers markets and other events and locations. Transit advertising was also used in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties. Any farm product grown, raised or harvested within one of the 12 counties that border Puget Sound may be identified as Puget Sound Fresh. Nearly 50 farmers markets in the region sold "Fresh" products in 2002. Major grocery retail outlets that supported "Fresh" products in 2002 include Larry's Market, Safeway, Puget Consumer Coop, Thriftway, and Top Foods. As part of the program, locally grown products are labeled with a Puget Sound Fresh sticker or banner. The program also encourages area grocery stores and farmers markets to promote local produce and farm products by using the logo. For more information on King County Farms or the Puget Sound Fresh Program, please visit www.pugetsoundfresh.org or contact King County "Farmbudsman" Steve Evans at (206) 296-7824 or via e-mail at steve.evans@kingcounty.gov.
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