Regional Markets Program Supports Small Farms
The Regional Markets Program works to strengthen the economic viability of small and direct-marketing farms and ranches, and to increase the availability of healthy, locally-grown foods for all Washingtonians and support robust local food and agricultural economies. Our programs offer information, resources, training and technical assistance, and regulatory guidance to farms and local buyers of Washington agricultural products.
Our Program Areas
Help farms access and sell to markets that match their scale and interests through technical assistance and resources on direct marketing strategies and regulations.
Promote Washington-grown foods in schools through procurement, policy, education, and facilitation of statewide partnerships between farmers, distributors, school districts, early childcare centers, and institutional food service providers.
Help small and diversified farms with scale-appropriate and cost-effective ways to implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Provide technical support to small farms & ranches selling meat, as well as the small meat processors farms depend on to access their markets.
Support local supply chain development and resiliency by identifying needs, sharing best practices, facilitating partnerships, and providing grants.
Use Our Key Resources and Publications
Also called the “Green Book,” this publication includes 53 fact sheets with for small farms with key marketing strategies and regulatory requirements for to sell specific farm and value added products.
A key resource for school nutrition programs to navigate procurement policy resources and purchase locally-grown foods.
Promotional materials, nutrition guidance, and recipes for over 50 Washington-grown foods for schools and others to use.
Resource for small farms learn that compares voluntary USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.
Full-sized posters of 23 Washington-grown foods featuring fun growing and nutrition facts. PDFs available for free download.
Handouts to share with potential customers, who often have common points of misunderstanding that turn them away from sourcing meat in bulk directly from the farm or ranch.
Order physical versions of these publications online through WA State Department of Enterprise Services:
- Handbook for Small and Direct Marketing Farms
- Bridging the GAPs Farm Guide (in English and Spanish)
- 23 Harvest Posters featuring Washington-Grown Foods