Published October 2002

Strategic plan
for agriculture is on its way

Surrounding many of the urban areas of Snohomish County is an economic resource that has in recent years begun to lay fallow and deserves our encouragement and support.

Throughout history, the county’s farmland has consistently provided a significant component of the county’s economy, providing a strong entrepreneurial spirit, productive employment, good wages and strong family and community values.

But agriculture also has brought to us much more, whether we live in rural, suburban or urban areas. Without farms, be they providers of fruits, vegetables, dairy products or grains, we would not enjoy the richness in quality of life that Snohomish County brings.

In addition to the individual challenges of running their own independently owned business, Snohomish County farmers also face significant challenges that threaten the continued economic health of agriculture here. Despite urban growth controls, the clamor for affordable housing has brought suburban homes to the fence lines of existing farms, along with complaints of smells and slow-moving equipment on narrow country roads.

At last year’s Farm-City Forum, farmers, environmentalists and government representatives gathered to discuss these challenges and farming’s future growth and responsibilities within Snohomish County. We hope the progressive discussions continue to find solutions that will allow our farmers to become even more economically viable.

One major point of agreement at the forum was the need for the creation and development of an Economic Development Strategic Plan for the county’s agriculture sector. The call for such a strategy was unanimous, including representatives from communities with agriculture entities either in or surrounding their incorporated area.

I am pleased to report that the county Economic Development Council has begun to take steps, with several community partners, to create a strategic plan for agriculture in Snohomish County.

Like any other segment of our economy, agriculture will need to evolve so that it can compete locally, regionally and in global markets as well. Farming can capitalize on the use of technological advances in farm machinery, irrigation technology and biotechnology to create and nurture companion aspects of our local economic growth and carve out new opportunities in the international market for trade.

The developing strategic plan aims to look at many such elements that will help agriculture grow and prosper within Snohomish County, including:

• Identifying new markets for products grown in Snohomish County.
• Identifying and describing agriculture as a “valued industry and land use” within the county.
• Finding efficient, cost-effective transportation alternatives to get agricultural products to markets or ports.
• Strengthening agricultural businesses by encouraging sustainable growth and investment.
• Building local community support of agricultural business.
• Providing a statistical analysis of the impact and benefits of a successful agriculture economic sector here.

We hope that developing this strategic plan provides the impetus to broaden support for agriculture in the county and to continue its stable employment opportunities, sustainable use of open land, broadening market opportunities and its continuing link to our quality of life.

Deborah Knutson is president of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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