Farmers of the farmers market celebrate year of growth

It's not often that the farmers of Jefferson County get to sit at a banquet of gourmet local food for $75 a plate.

In part, that's because there aren't many banquets made entirely of gourmet local food, though the Port Townsend Farmers Market third annual Harvest Dinner on Oct. 26 was certainly the exception.

But in part it's also because most farmers can't afford the $75. The growth of local farms and the ranks of farmers, marked by the rapid growth of the farmers market here, has not changed the economics of small farms. It's hard work through many hours through many cold months that produces a barely livable wage. That's the way it looks to longtime farmer Robert Greenway of Corona Farm.

"The success of the market truly rests on the farmers," he said, "and this is a raggedy, wily, persistent bunch, for the most part willing to work 60- to 70-hour weeks for a few bucks an hour." While many local farmers have been at it for years, others are new and bring new energy and skills to the fields. Among those new skills, said Greenway, are business models that "show them, rather harshly, just how hard they are working and how little they are compensated for it." There are exceptions, such as farms supported by family money or a strong legacy, he said.

Why support your local Farmers Market?

Most of us never meet the people who grow our food

• Buying from farmers markets supports small family farmers. Without your support, many local farms risk extinction.


• Family farms and farmers markets employ local people.


• Farmers markets build community: market customers know their neighbors.


• Farmers markets are an important part of thriving local business districts.


• Eating fresh, local fruits and vegetables contributes to good health.


• Fresh, local products have incomparable flavor and quality.


• Family farms preserve the open space we, our children, and wild animals crave and need.
  

Local farms grow a diversity of crops , ensuring crop biodiversity, which is key to healthy ecosystems.

Gabriel Bernier Explains The New Food Stamp System

Gabriel Bernier, VISTA Volunteer Community Support Services, explains the new Port Townsend Farmers Market Food Stamp System, buys Apples with wooden tokens, figures out how to keep the "Got Food" sign straight and explains how he got involved in the Olympic Community Action Program.