Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Jill M. Smith – KCAA Director Candidate

Last modified on 2009-10-27 21:09:16 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Upon arrival to Kitsap County in May 2009, I searched the internet for farmer’s markets, CSAs and co-ops; I was looking for a way to buy local foods. I was delighted to see so much activity in the area that allowed local farmers to sell their food. I joined KCAA immediately. And, I was excited by the projects still being developed, too. I immediately joined KCAA to get involved with supporting local farmers and getting the most up to date information about local food events and happenings.

I am running for the KCAA board of directors to contribute to the burgeoning local food movement, and to strengthen its role in providing a larger percentage of food to the pantry shelves in surrounding communities.

Jill Marie Smith

As a new lawyer, I hope to gain insight from participating with KCAA. The insight I seek is being able to recognize ways in which local, county, state, and national government programs and policies are serving local and small acreage farmers, ways those programs and policies could be improved and ways in which local farmers desire more autonomy. I believe that farmers need strong asset protection tools to acquire stability and accrue sufficient wealth to continue the rich tradition of family farms. To me, that means that supporting a family farm (including health care and other financial burdens that fall to an independent businessperson) based upon the income from farming should be less of a burden than it currently is.

If elected to the board of directors, I look forward to learning more about the local farming community, helping develop new initiatives and continue current projects, and continuing the swell of local food excitement that is rolling across Kitsap County, Western Washington and the entire nation.