HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROCLAMATION Eat Local Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight, Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE: September 2,2025
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming the Month of September 2025 as Olympic
Peninsula Eat Local First Month
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Presented by the Eat Local First Statewide Collaborative, Eat Local Month in September is a month-
long celebration of local farms and food throughout the state of Washington. We invite the community
to connect with local food by experiencing the abundance of what is grown, raised, harvested and made
right here on the North Olympic Peninsula in Jefferson County.
The broader Eat Local First local food campaign strengthens Olympic Peninsula farms and producers
by engaging the community through education, promotion and access to build a diverse, equitable and
vibrant local food economy. Our goal is to help build market demand and increase access to locally
grown and produced food through targeted strategies to engage certain sectors of the community,
including low-income and rural communities, institutional purchasers and culinary professionals.
Eat Local First Olympic Peninsula partners include Jefferson County Farmers Market Association,
North Olympic Development Council, Olympic Culinary Loop, Washington State University Extension
Regional Small Farms Program.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
We recommend the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners support this mission and
campaign by proclaiming September 2025 as Eat Local Month to help bring public awareness and
engagement of our local food economy on the North Olympic Peninsula.
REVIEWED BY:
Jos P. Peters, County Administrator Date
PROCLAMATION
EAT LOCAL MONTH
WHEREAS, the Salish Sea region has provided a rich bounty of local foods from both the
water and the land, which has been stewarded by the S'Klallam people and other visiting tribes since
time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County, Washington is home to clean streams, shellfish beds and marine
waters as well as fertile valleys and lush forests in a temperate climate, all of which contribute to the
diverse and abundant wild and cultivated foods available here; and
WHEREAS, since the 19th century, this region has been home to many farms producing a wide
range of crops for local consumption as well as for sale throughout the Puget Sound region and
beyond; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County residents seek locally grown,produced, and harvested food
products for many reasons including good nutrition, to live in a more sustainable way for our
environment, and to support our local economy and communities; and
WHEREAS, myriad local organizations have worked together for 19 years under the umbrella
of the Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative to preserve hundreds of acres of prime farmland, support
environmental restoration, assist in sustainable business planning and encourage local investment; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County has seen ongoing economic growth in the food and farm sectors,
which provides employment and keeps more dollars recirculating in the local economy; and
WHEREAS, local food production leads to greater resilience in food security and reduces
carbon footprint of our food supply; and
WHEREAS, eating more Jefferson County-grown foods helps preserve Jefferson County's
rural, working landscape and the way of life we cherish; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County strives to ensure all of our residents have access to healthy, local
food regardless of income; and
WHEREAS, supporting farmer's markets, grocers, restaurants and institutional buyers who
support Jefferson County's local farmers,producers and fisheries also helps contribute to all of the
above; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County's 23nd annual Farm Tour is September 13, and 14, 2025;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners does hereby proclaim September, 2025 as;
EAT LOCAL MONTH
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that the Board of Commissioners encourages all citizens
and visitors alike to join in celebrating Eat Local First Olympic Peninsula's "Eat Local Month"
campaign.
PROCLAIMED this 2! day of September, 2025.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
ATTEST: Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC, Clerk of the Board Greg Brotherton, Member