When you buy
locally you know you are buying the freshest possible food for yourself and your family.
Greater freshness means less flavor and nutrition is lost in shipping produce to market.
Local farmers can also grow those old-fashioned varieties of tomatoes or peaches,
harvested just as they are bursting with juicy flavor, rather than resorting to varieties
bred to withstand the rigors of long-distance trucking and storage.
Buying local makes good economic sense, too. When you buy fresh produce at your local farmers market, your food dollars go directly into the pockets of farmers rather than those of shippers, brokers, and wholesalers. That money stays in the local economy, helping to keep our region vibrant and strong.
Although primarily urban in nature, King County still boasts beautiful open spaces with fertile farmland east and south of the urban core. Once lost to development that open space would be lost forever, not only as a source of food, but also as a source of beauty.
There are nine Farmers Markets in King County and more than 50 throughout Washington State where you can buy fresh, local produce at the peak of ripeness. Shopping at these markets is a great way to stay in tune with the seasons, and stock up on the first sweet corn or strawberries of the summer.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms market their produce directly to the consumer through selling "shares" to their members. The share price is paid in advance, and entitles the CSA member to weekly bags of produce throughout the growing season, usually picked up at the farm or at a convenient location. Averaged out over the course of the year, prices are generally below retail pricing. For a complete listing of CSA farms in Washington, call Seattle Tilth at 206-633-0451.
Visiting
a U-pick farm is a great way to spend part of a day, and kids love it. The Farm Fresh
Guide is a complete guide to U-Pick farms, farm stands and farmers markets, and can be
found at libraries and participating grocery stores. Or send a $.32 stamp and your name
and address to Puget Sound Farm Direct Marketing Association / 1733 NE 20th St. / Renton,
WA 98056.
Information on these and other local options is available at the Puget Sound Fresh website.
Updated: 26 June, 1999