KCD’s Member Jurisdiction Grant Program provides grants to 35 cities in King County to support community-driven conservation and access to healthy, local food. Many cities have utilized the funds to attract more shoppers to their farmers markets.
The City of Auburn has developed their International Farmers Market, which also serves residents of smaller cities adjacent to Auburn such as Algona and Pacific and is well known in South King County. Amanda Valdez, the Market Coordinator, has facilitated food assistance programs, and extensive promotion and marketing plans; including popular demonstrations on cooking, food preservation, and gardening. The growing market, which recently moved to Les Grove Park, continues to serve the community in numerous ways. For example, last year farmers donated 5,405 pounds of fresh produce to the Auburn Food Bank, twice as much as the year before.
“Thanks to funding from King Conservation District, the Auburn Farmers Market has been able to bring fresh produce, education on healthy living, and agriculture to the community of Auburn. We are beyond pleased to see our Market grow and our community engage in the beauty that is a farmers market. In 2018, customer attendance increased by 28% and vendor sales increased by 66% as our community gained access to farm fresh foods.” – Amanda Valdez, Market Coordinator
KCD will be at farmers markets across the County this year to engage vendors and customers on our programs. We will again be giving away cover crop seeds while supplies last. The following is the list of markets we will be attending. If you would like to get involved by volunteering at our tent, contact Anna Beebe at outreachip@kingcd.org.
| Issaquah Farmers Market | Saturday, May 11 | 9 am – 2 pm |
| Renton Farmers Market | Tuesday, June 18 | 3 pm – 7 pm |
| Kirkland Farmers Market | Wednesday, June 26 | 2 pm – 7 pm |
| Auburn Farmers Market | Sunday, June 30 | 10 am – 3 pm |
| Auburn Farmers Market | Sunday, July 14 | 10 am – 3 pm |
| Shoreline Farmers Market | Saturday, July 27 | 10 am – 3 pm |
| Des Moines Farmers Market | Saturday, August 10 | 10 am – 2 pm |
| Auburn Farmers Market | Sunday, August 11 | 10 am – 3 pm |
| Bellevue Farmers Market | Thursday, August 15 | 3 pm – 7 pm |
| Kent Farmers Market | Saturday, August 24 | 9 am – 3 pm |
| Redmond Farmers Market | Saturday, Sept 7 | 9 am – 3 pm |
Resource Planner, Rural Land Stewardship
O: 425-282-1934 – C: 425-215-8973
Matt has been with KCD since 2016. Originally brought on to coordinate grant submissions, Matt also supported and coordinated volunteer, education, and outreach events through the Engagement team. He has since moved over to the Food and Farm Team to make full use of his talents as a Resource Planner.