Economic Opportunity Assessment for Snohomish County Agriculture

Objective

The Agriculture Sustainability Project, launched in October 2007 as part of the County’s Focus on Farming initiative, is designed to identify methods to strengthen the County’s agricultural economy and preserve local farmlands. Community Attributes’s Economic Opportunity Assessment Report assembles data analysis along with input from key County, community and agricultural stakeholders to assess identified and emerging agricultural opportunities for Snohomish County farmers.

The efforts of the Agricultural Sustainability Project are timely, given increasing public awareness of local food supplies with regard to health, safety and concern for the environment. The County’s current policy initiatives include programs designed to preserve agricultural lands, including the purchase and transfer of development rights from agricultural areas. Present concern about food sources and farming and transport methods increase demand for local farmers. Global and local concerns converge to create a climate ripe for agricultural opportunities and growth.

Strategy

For Snohomish County Department of Economic Development and the Snohomish County Agriculture Board, Community Attributes provided economic and market research in support of economic development planning for the County’s agricultural industry.

Analysis included identification of new markets for locally grown agricultural products, opportunities for new infrastructure to support agricultural development and feasibility for facilities that support the industry strategies. Analysis also included public policy and program evaluation, including the County’s transfer of development rights programs and other ag lands preservation strategies.

Results

Working with the County’s Agriculture Board, Community Attributes identified working goals designed to facilitate development of action steps to grow farmers' revenues. Goals identified focused on development of a year-round public market and agritourism, along with infrastructure needs, including processing units and distribution supports. The goals also address organizational capacity and policy supports, for which programs and services can be designed to continue this important work.