This is Farmers Market Week
Washington Ag Today August 6, 2009 To recognize the growing importance of farmers markets to consumers, farmers and the economy, Governor Chris Gregoire proclaimed this week Washington Farmers Market Week. Washington State Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Louisell says there are farmers markets in 32 of the state’s 39 counties. Louisell: “So they are spread all the state. It is exciting to know they are still growing. We have a 140 farmers markets by count. Was up from 125 in the previous year.” And Louisell says the value of farmers markets sales is growing too. Louisell: “I think the latest figures show about 55 million dollars in total sales through farmers markets across the state and that is up from 38 million as recently as 2006.” And most of those dollars go directly to the farmer. One project of the Washington Farmers Market Association has been getting wireless technology for the markets so consumers can use credit and debit cards to make purchases. Also this year, 20 additional markets are accepting electronic benefits transfer cards under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program. The state Legislature’s “Local Farms, Healthy Kids” initiative made all that possible. For a list of farmers markets across the state and those with wireless payment technology go to
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ?
