Mayor Harrell Proposes a New Investment for Food Security
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Thursday September 4, 2025, Lake City Farmers Market
We are working to expand the season at the Lake City Farmers Market in 2026!
A proposed investment in the Seattle Mayor’s draft budget would extend the Lake City Farmers Market by 15 more weeks into the fall and winter. This will create new sales opportunities for about 30 local farmers and food businesses—strengthening their income and ability to continue producing food for all of us.
Neighborhood Farmers Market Director, Jennifer Antos, Thursday September 4, 2025, Lake City Farmers Market
If you’re familiar with Northeast Seattle, you might know that grocery options, especially in Lake City, are limited. With the right support, we have an opportunity to improve the current situation and expand access to local food. If approved by City Council this fall, the expansion would begin in 2026 and bring even more opportunities for farmers, food producers, and the Lake City community.
The Neighborhood Farmers Market opened the Lake City Farmers Market in 2002. Since then, this small but mighty market has provided a vital gathering space for people who live and work in the area.
“Our farmers are ready to bring more food into Lake City, but the supply only grows when we invest in it,” says Jennifer Antos, Executive Director at the Neighborhood Farmers Markets. “This public investment is an acknowledgment that farmers markets are part of the solution for feeding Seattle neighborhoods, and we are grateful to Mayor Harrell for recognizing this.”
The project, if approved, would also help to meet the needs of low-income people to purchase fresh foods. Compared to markets in more affluent neighborhoods, twice as many purchases in Lake City are made using food assistance benefits like SNAP and Fresh Bucks, which means low-income families, seniors, and immigrant communities are relying on this market for affordable choices. When we expand, we’re not just growing a market—we’re making sure healthy, local food is within reach for everyone.
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