The middle of summer is a fantastic time to visit any of the more than three dozen farmers markets in communities across King County, where some of the best fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and other products await.

“Thanks to decades of work to preserve our precious King County farmlands, we now enjoy a nourishing network of farmers markets that provides access to the freshest foods around,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who has proclaimed Aug. 4-10 as “King County Farmers Market Week.”

Farmers markets throughout King County are brimming with berries, early ripening apples, vegetables, greens, fresh flowers and much more. Many farmers markets also offer farm-fresh eggs and meat, while some markets sell cheese, wine and other products that were also grown and produced here in King County.

To find the latest news on what’s fresh, plus farmers market locations and even recipes, visitwww.pugetsoundfresh.org.

This year, there is another reason to celebrate Farmers Market Week throughout King County: Up to 2,000 acres of irreplaceable farmland and 23,000 acres of nearby forestland would be permanently protected from development under an innovative partnership that Executive Constantine has proposed to transfer rural development rights into Seattle’s Downtown and South Lake Union neighborhoods for increased urban density.

By transferring development rights from farms and forests toward greater urban density, King County’s farmers can continue to provide a fresh, local food supply to farmers markets, restaurants and Community Supported Agriculture programs without development pressure.

King County farmers markets provide strong sales opportunities for more than 250 family farms across Washington, including more than 100 farmers from the County itself.