08/15/06 Farmers Market Week

Washington Ag August 15, 2006 This is Washington State Farmers Market Week, so proclaimed by Governor Chris Gregoire, and residents of the state are encouraged to show their support for family farms by shopping at a local farmers market. The number of the markets in Washington have increased from 60 in 1998 to more than 90 this year. Statewide, farmers markets reported 24-million dollars in sales in 2005 and that was up two-million from the previous year. Fred Berman, program coordinator of Small Farm and Direct Marketing at the Washington State Department of Agriculture explains, the value of the markets for consumers and producers. Berman: "It is an opportunity as we say to put a face on the food and that means you get an opportunity to meet the person who is actually growing or producing your food. And for the farmer it allows them the best opportunity for direct marketing and direct marketing for a farmer, a small scale farmer in particular, is a very important avenue to maximize their return on their investment in time and effort. We like to think of farmers having the opportunity to be price setters instead of price takers when they go to a farmers market." Many farmers markets are hosting special events this week to celebrate their growth and popularity. I'm Bob Hoff. www.wafarmersmarkets.com. For a produce seasonality chart, go the Web site of the WSDA From the Heart of Washington campaign at www.heartofwashington.com and click on "Get it Fresh."