It doesn’t get any fresher: Farmers markets opening for business across King County

Farm-fresh, locally grown produce and other agricultural products are becoming easier to find, thanks to an ever-expanding list of farmers markets across King County.

While some markets won't begin their seasons until later in the year, roughly 20 of the 32 farmers markets that are scheduled to operate in 2007 are either already open for business, or will be opening over the next few weeks.

Communities with farmers markets that are already up and running include Seattle (Pike Place Market), Vashon and Issaquah. A complete list of area farmers markets is available online at: http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/farmers_markets.htm.

County Executive Ron Sims said farmers markets help keep King County residents healthy, and they strengthen the county's agricultural economy, too.

"Eating fresh, locally produced food improves a person's health and our community's bottom line," Sims said. "A decade ago, there were about 12 farmers markets throughout King County. Last year, 27 farmers markets totaled sales of approximately $20 million. This year, with five more markets than in 2006, we will very likely see even higher sales figures."

Sims provided the infrastructure for the current network of farmers markets when he started the Puget Sound Fresh program 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.

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