Summary

County farms and the collaborative road from farm to table

Story

With the third highest number of farms in the state, King County’s economy is more than jets, software and coffee. The Metropolitan King County Council’s Committee of the Whole will be holding a special Town Hall meeting to discuss the regional economic impact of King County farms and the challenges their operators face as shrinking county budgets impact the rural and unincorporated communities they are part of:

“I am delighted to kick off our Council’s in-District meeting series with our focus on our King County food and farm issues,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, Chair of the Committee of the Whole. “As spring settles in, our local bounty deserves attention.”

“I’m glad to be co-hosting this Town Hall in my district,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, whose district includes Fall City. “The dual focus of food/farm and local/regional government should present all those who attend with plenty of good information and a broad range of topics for citizens to give their valuable input on.”

The Town Hall will start with Dwight Dively, the director of the County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget discussing rural economic development challenges and opportunities.

There will then be two panels discussing the unique challenges facing farms in King County and the partnerships that help farmers get their crops not only to tables throughout King County, but throughout the world. Scheduled panelists include:

• Erick Haakenson, Co-Chair, King County Local Food Initiative
• Siri Erickson-Brown, Owner, Local Roots Farms
• Nancy Hutto, Chair, King County Agriculture Commission
• Josh Monaghan, Senior Planner, King Conservation District
• Jim Berger, Mayor, City of Carnation
• Becky Elias, Food Protection Manager, Public Health Seattle-King County
• Patty Spahr, Manager, Mercer Island Farmers Market
• Carrie Van Dyck, Proprietor, The Herbfarm
• Todd McGiverin, Director of Marketing, Haggen grocery store


After the panelists, the Council will take public testimony on these and other issues.

More about Town Halls
Town Hall Meetings are part of Councilmembers’ initiative to “get out of the courthouse” and into the communities they serve.

Each Town Hall is a special meeting of the Council’s Committee of the Whole, the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. It considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council.