HomeMy WebLinkAboutProclamation Eat Local First Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight,Executive Assistant
DATE: September 5,2023
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming the Month of September,2023 as Olympic
Peninsula Eat Local First Month
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Presented by the Eat Local First Olympic Peninsula chapter, Eat Local Month in September
is a month-long celebration of local farms and food in Clallam and Jefferson Counties. 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. Throughout
the month, each day of the week will feature businesses and organizations committed to
engaging community members about local food resources and availability, including
farmers/producers, local grocers, eating local on a budget, restaurants, farmers markets,
seafood producers and more.
The broader Eat Local First collaborative 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 Month partners include Jefferson County Farmers Market Association,North Olympic
Development Council,North Olympic Land Trust. Olympic Culinary Loop, Port Angeles
Farmers Market, Port Townsend Food Coop, Port Townsend Leader, Sequim Market,
Washington State University Extension Regional Small Farms Program and The Local Food
Trust.
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 2023 as Eat Local Month to help bring public awareness and
engagement of our local food economy on the North Olympic Peninsula.
REVIEWED BY:
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Mark McCauley&ounty 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 17 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 sector,
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 reduction of
the 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 21"annual Farm Tour is September 16-17, 2023;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners do hereby
Proclaim September, 2023;
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.
i
PROCLAIMED this 18`h day of September, 2023.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
Greg Brotherton, Chair
ATTEST: Heidi Eisenhour, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Clerk of the Board Kate Dean, Member