It’s time to grab your reusable bag, meet your local farmer and choose from an assortment of tasty, nutritious fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and more –much of it coming from within a short tractor ride of your community.

With 19 King County neighborhood farmers markets opening in June – joining the 21 that are already open – the farmers market season is in high gear. By the first week of July, all 41 King County farmers markets will be open.

“King County is now the proud home to more than 40 farmers markets that have become integral to their communities,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are working to strengthen and support our farm-to-table pipeline so that local farms can thrive as a reliable source for fresh, locally grown food for all.”

Supporting local farms is a key component of Executive Constantine’s Local Food Initiative, which is designed to increase access to healthy food.

King County’s farmers markets are thriving. Statistical comparisons between 2013 and 2014 show nearly a 10 percent increase in shoppers from more than 2.1 million to more than 2.3 million (25 markets reporting) and close to an 11 percent increase in farmer sales, from $12.6 million to nearly $14 million (26 markets reporting). And these figures don’t include the biggest farmers market of them all – Pike Place Market.

Renton and Carnation join 25 other markets accepting EBT cards this year. You can find all the farmers markets accepting EBT cards on the Washington State Farmers Market Association website.

For information about all 41 King County farmers markets – including what days they are open and what farm products are in season – visit the Puget Sound Fresh website. The Puget Sound Fresh program was created by the King County Agriculture Commission and is operated by Cascade Harvest Coalition.

Learn more about King County’s Local Food Initiative online.