The King County Executive’s “Kitchen Cabinet” has now concluded and published its final report. At this time implementation of the recommendations in the report are well under way. Additional info is available here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/local-food.aspx
There are three specific areas of focus in development of a plan to achieve the goal of 250 new farmers on 4000 acres of new farmland in the next ten years:
1. First is the development of a “one-stop farm shop” which will locate and coordinate all available State, Federal, and County agencies along with academic, economic and ag-based NGOs that provide services to farmers. This information will be available on a single, County-maintained web-site. Additionally, there will be a County-funded office that will be staffed daily to provide information on any and every aspect of farming for both new and experienced farmers.
2. Second is the availability of County assistance in marketing. The County has filled a full-time position with a person to help develop new markets for agricultural products in King County. Of special interest to SVT farmers is that this person—Lilly Simmering—has already been at work on behalf of the Snoqualmie Valley Farmer’s Co-op (the only farmer’s Co-op in KC). If you are interested in being a part of the Co-op, please contact one of the Co-op’s two directors, Matt Tregoning (soltoseedfarm@gmail.com) or Erick Haakenson (jubileefarm@hotmail.com).
3. The third is still being worked on: this is a series of policy changes that will incentivize new farmers to farm in KC, and “encourage” people who own land in APDs to either farm their land or find someone who will.
I would value input any of you may have on these issues and especially on #3 (ways to incentivize new farmers and to get more land in the APD available for farming).
Erick Haakenson
Jubilee Farm
jubileefarm@hotmail.com