1. Finding our Roots… Sarah Garitone, Program Coordinator for Agricultural Assistance Pierce Conservation District, Puyallup, WA Encouraging Agriculture in an Urbanizing County

2. A Fourth Generation, Looking for Roots… 1942 Victory Garden in Tacoma Puyallup berry fields – summer 1916 Source: Price, Lori and Ruth Anderson. “Puyallup: A Pioneer Paradise.” Arcadia Publishing: San Francisco, 2002.

3. Pierce County, Washington SQUARE MILES: 1,790 POPULATION: 805,400 PRINCIPAL CITY: Tacoma Source: “Pierce County Profile” http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/profile.htm

4. We have some of the best farmland in the world. 38,940 acres remaining which are well suited to farming (2008). http://www.piercecountycd.org/images/PierceFinalReport.pdf Opportunity…

5. Agricultural Product Profile Leads nation in rhubarb production Pumpkins, cabbage, lettuce, radishes, green onions… Ranks second in state for tulip and daffodil production Aquaculture Largest egg producer in Western WA Many small-scale diversified operations

6. Land Development High Land Prices Water Rights Aging farmer population Global retail markets However, our local agriculture faces some big challenges. Challenges … Lost 18,000 acres of farmland between 1982 and 1997. http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/profile/agriculture.htm Sept. 2008

7. So many reasons for greater involvement in agriculture… Protect from soil erosion and degradation Develop habitat in urban areas and green space Reduce transportation related pollution Global food security…and more Reasons for Urban Ag… At the dawn of agricultural civilizations, the 98 percent of people who worked the land supported a small ruling class that oversaw the distribution of food and resources. Today, the less than 1 percent of the U.S. population still working the land feeds the rest of us.” - David R. Montgomery, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations Source: http://www.cityfarmer.org/barrsUAvanc.html#2 and Montgomery, David R. “Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations.” University of California Press: Berkley, 2007.

8. With an overall mission to conserve natural resources… Capacity Building of Farmers Markets Community Gardens Senior Food Box Program Farmer and Consumer Cooperatives Urban Awareness of Local Products and Farmland Issues

9. Why Farmers Markets? Creating the space for face-to-face interaction between producers and consumers… Number of Operating Farmers Markets Source: USDA AMS-Marketing Services Division, “Farmers Market Growth: 1994-2008,”Jan 2008, http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateS&navID=WholesaleandFarmersMarkets&leftNav= WholesaleandFarmersMarkets&page=WFMFarmersMarketGrowth&description=Farmers%20Market%20Growth&acct=frmrdirmkt According to the USDA AMS there has been a 6.8% increase in markets

10. Our Work with Farmers Markets Provide technical assistance and funding to markets in Pierce County: – Staffing, especially for low-income program support – Marketing programs & branding – Consumer education – Start up costs for new markets

11. Example: Tacoma Farmers Market Consumer Education Campaign “Wagoneers” Program - Boy Scouts take left over produce to food bank Food Film festival with local theater EBT (food stamp) staff assistance -Low income access -greater revenue for farmers and markets Sales for Tacoma area farmers markets were up 20% in 2008

12. Community Gardens & Urban Growing Organizing community garden information online Tacoma Community Garden Tour 07 & 08! Community Conversations about urban growing L’Arche/Food Connection Orchard Project: New orchard will be planted on local farm, fruit to go to local food bank

13. Low-Income Senior Food Boxes How does it work? People Served 2006 1,300 boxes/ 433 clients 2007 2,330 boxes/ 630 clients 2008 3,000 boxes/ 630 clients Partners: Aging and Long Term Care Pierce County Council Eligible: Low-Income Seniors who would be eligible for Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers

14. USDA Mobile Meat Processing Unit Puget Sound Meat Producers Cooperative Agricultural Cooperative Producers, Butchers, Consumers, Chefs Will run a USDA inspected Mobile Slaughter Unit Cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, (and poultry) MMPU should be ready for operation summer 2009

15. Tacoma Food Cooperative To provide healthy, affordable, locally produced foods to all levels of local population 2 years into development Membership $100 In the process of building membership base and working on a store location and opening plan.

16. Local Food & Farm Outreach Tacoma Library Book of the Year Promotion Community Garden Tour in Tacoma Eat Local For Thanksgiving Pledge Branding – Puget Sound Fresh – Salmon Safe Certified

17. Tahoma Food Policy Coalition “growing a just, healthy, and sustainable food system by influencing policies, developing projects, and sharing resources.” June 2008 - stakeholders from many different aspects of our local food system have met to begin better coordinating work, including; health department, parks, farmers, neighborhood councils, farmers markets, etc. Graphic Source: Laura Raymond, Re-Shaping Seattle’s Food System: Sustaining a Healthy City

18. Why Urban Ag & Food Systems Work? Enormous potential of ‘local food’ movement Environment – Health – Economy – Community “One might begin with the illuminating principle of Sir Albert Howard’s The Soil and Health, that we should understand ‘the whole problem of health in soil, plant, animal, and man as one great subject.’ Eaters, that is must understand that eating takes place inescapably in the world, that is inescapably an agricultural act, and that how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used.” - Wendell Berry, The Pleasures of Eating

19. Roles for District in Urban Ag & Food Systems… We were born out of the Dust Bowl Located in nearly every county throughout nation Non regulatory and set up to tailor local programs to needs of local landowners Power of Districts to make change in food systems from an environmental perspective

20. For More Information, Contact: Sarah Garitone Pierce Conservation District PO Box 1057 Puyallup, WA 98371 sarahg@piercecountycd.org (253) 845-9770 x108 Thank you!