Description
Farmers markets bring fresh food directly to communities with limited access, provide a direct to-consumer channel for local farmers and food entrepreneurs, and serve as community hubs. King County will invest in community-based organizations to strengthen and expand farmers markets, increasing food access in underserved areas, including south and unincorporated King County. This includes prioritizing initiatives that enhance economic opportunities for socially disadvantaged local farmers and improve access to food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP at farmers markets, support cold storage infrastructure, commercial kitchens, and places to get food ready for market. Investing in these markets will reduce food insecurity in low-income communities, increase access to healthy foods in King County food deserts, and be a vehicle for providing stable marketing outlets for growing number of immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC-owned farms.
King County will also seek funding for community-based organizations to enhance food access for communities disproportionately affected by climate change and food insecurity, ensuring equitable access to nutritious, local, and sustainably grown foods. This will support the local food economy, improve public health, and increase access to culturally relevant food.