SEATTLE -- Seasonal farmers markets will get under way this weekend all around King County. A new study commissioned by King County is showing just how much the markets have blossomed during the past decade, and it also reveals some of the significant changes many shoppers will notice when the vendors arrive this year.
Karen Kinney is an agriculture marketing specialist with the King County Agriculture Program. She worked on the Farmers Market Report and says market managers are really trying to provide diversity among their vendors.
"Well, I think we're going to be seeing more and more different kinds of meat at the markets," said Kinney. "We're going to see more and more cheese we're going to see more and more value added because there's significant money for farmers in selling value added goods like ciders and jams and jellies and vinegars and preserves and things like that."
The report shows just how much farmers markets are flourishing in King County. In 1999, there were just nine, which generated about $3.5 million. This summer, there will be 41 markets, which are expected to bring in as much as $30 million.
Changes are afoot as well. This year several King County farmers markets will accept credit and debit cards, and 16 are slated to take food stamps.
One obstacle for farmers markets is the perception that the goods sold at them are more expensive than what can be found at large grocery stores. And while local farmers cannot compete with loss leader specials, Kinney says studies prove the value is there.
"What they have found is on average, if you look at a market basket of food, the market basket of different foods will actually cost less than the same basket at the grocery store. Some of the food may cost more, some may cost less. But on average, it's less. And that's if you're comparing like food to like food," said Kinney.
For a complete list of King County farmers markets, including their location, along with days and hours of operation, go to pugetsoundfresh.org.
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