Reconnecting consumers with their food growers is an important part of this program. An interview with a farmer can be part of your newsletter or posted at a senior dining site. Encourage participants to meet the growers and ask questions about the produce they grow.

Below are several local farmer interviews and some sample questions. If the farmer sells at a market near you, the interviews can be used for your newsletter, or as program promotion. The interviews can also be used as a template so that you can profile your own local growers.

Sample Questions

• Where is your farm located?
• How many acres do you farm?
• What type of fruits and vegetables do you grow?
• Do you grow any specialty produce?
• How did you get started farming?
• Is it a family farm?
• How many of your kids help on the farm?
• What markets do you sell produce at?
• What days are you at those markets?

Razey Orchards - Bill and Mary Kay Razey

The Razey family has a long history of farming in our state. Bill's great-grandfather bought 160 acres in 1902 for $7000. Bill's father Dan was born on the land the same year Pike Place Market got its start, in 1907, and lives there still.

The land was divided among family over time, and Dan and his brother Glen (who at 87 also still lives on the land) each took over 18 acres. Originally used for corn, cattle and hay, the land was converted to fruit orchards in the 1930's and family members farm both lots today.

Bill was raised in Coulee City where his dad worked. On weekends and in the summers Bill and his dad worked on the family farm. Bill met Mary Kay while both were studying at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and told her from the start he was going back to the land to farm.

A local city girl, Mary Kay always wanted to marry a farmer so Bill's plan was fine with her. However, she does note that she used to love cherries, and now she loves a cherry farmer instead!

It is Mary Kay's hope that their children will come to own and farm the land as a fifth-generation.

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

RAMA Farm

Rick and Marilynne Lynne of RAMA farm bring you the delicious soft fruit, peaches, nectarines and apricots, in your bag this summer. Their family farm is along the Columbia River in North Central Washington, nestled among the sagebrush and rattlesnakes.

Marilynne started farming ten years ago by growing herbs and flowers. She and Rick then purchased their farm and began growing soft fruit. They became certified organic in 1994. In addition to the five acres of soft fruit, they also have five acres of herbs and berries.

Rick, Marilynne and their four children do the majority of the work on the family farm. The kids start by making labels and boxes and work their way up to packing fruit and overseeing picking.

Rick and Marilynne's oldest son just finished the horticultural program in soft fruit in Wenatchee and their second son is also interested in becoming a farmer. Their youngest son, twelve years old, managed the household during the busy harvest season this year! Each family member plays an important role in bringing the wonderful tree-ripened fruit to the Farmers' Markets in Puget Sound.

When asked how she got started, Marilynne explained that her desire to become a farmer camefrom her "Swiss farming blood". Her relatives emigrated from Switzerland and continued farming in the Northwest. Marilynne feels the farming tradition chose her, "It runs in my blood.".

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

Jones Creek Farm

Jones Creek Farm brings you the delicious apples in your bag this month! Located in the Skagit Valley near Lyman, Les and Talea Price have been farming there for about ten years. They have 34 acres where they grow garlic and about 130 varieties of apples!

Of the 130 varieties of apples, Les explains that a local favorite is a green apple called Gravenstein which grows well in our maritime climate. Today most apples are grown in hot Eastern Washington but back in the late 1800's all the apples in Washington were grown on the western side of the Cascades. Les' grandfather was a farmer near Grants Pass, OR. It was during Les' visits to his grandfather's farm that Les developed a love for growing plants.

For most of his life, growing plants was just a hobby. Then as he describes it, he was "bit by a bug" to be a farmer after visiting a farm in Skagit Valley.

He and his wife bought the farm and decided to farm the land themselves. Les felt that since much of the farmland here in Washington is being developed, he wanted to preserve it. He explained, "I like a good challenge".

Les and Talea now do six farmer's markets a week, including Pike Place Market. They believe in re-educating folks on how good - fresh, local produce can be. They have been known to run after shoppers to get them to try a delicious fresh apple! Les also sells lemon cucumbers, an heirloom variety that his grandfather used to grow, and he enjoys getting people to try them. They have a yellow sweet thin skin and have a flavorful cucumber taste.

Les and Talea are expecting their second child in December (their first son is in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg).

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

Sidhu's Farm

The delicious blueberries you have been enjoying for the past several weeks and the wonderful cabbage were grown by Chet and Ajmer Sidhu at their farm in Puyallup, WA.

Chet moved from Punjab, India 12 years ago to Tacoma, WA. He was a farmer in India and loved it so much he wanted to continue farming here. Chet saw beautiful farmland in the south Puget Sound being developed and filled in with concrete, so he took his chance to preserve some of the land. He and his family began farming six years ago and then were joined by his brother Ajmer and his family two years ago. He said he often receives offers to develop his farmland but is determined to continue the farming tradition.

Their 34-acre farm is in the process of becoming certified organic. Six acres are already certified organic. Sidhu's farm grows mostly berries, like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries. They also have an abundance of vegetables, like cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, and the cabbage that you enjoyed in your bags last week.

Like most small farms, family plays an important role. Chet and Ajmer's families all work on the farm…with seven kids between the two brothers, they have lots of help!

Chet has modeled his farm here, like the one in his homeland India. His friends from India love to visit his home and farm because they feel just like they have taken a trip back to Punjab.
You can find Sidhu's produce at the Kent Farmers Market on Thursdays, in Renton and Puyallup on Saturdays and seven days a week at Pike Place Market.

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

Pipitone Farms

Jerry and Andrea Pipitone grew the delicious Red Haven peaches in your bag on their five-acre organic farm in Rock Island, WA.
Jerry began his career as an organic farmer in 1978 in his own backyard. He fell in love with gardening and decided to start growing food on a larger scale. That's how he met his wife, Andrea. She had an extra acre of land that she offered to let Jerry begin farming on. Andrea said that Jerry always tells everyone, "She was the best crop he ever grew".

They bought their current farm fifteen years ago. Jerry and Andrea, and many family members, continue to harvest and pack their wonderful crops of apricots, peaches, nectarines and Italian prunes. Andrea explained that Italian prunes are like dense plums that are good for drying.

Andrea also makes low- sugar organic jams and pepper spreads in their commercial kitchen. Her low-sugar peach and apricot jams have sold out every year. She makes them with six parts fruit to one part sugar.

To help reduce pests on the farm, they have planted eggplant, tomatoes, garlic and peppers in between the rows of tree fruit. The peppers, garlic and tomatoes are used in their hot pepper spreads.

Jerry has been very involved with Farmer's Markets. He helped to start the Wenatchee Farmer's Market 24 years ago. Today they sell produce at six different Farmer's Markets in Puget Sound. Jerry and Andrea are helped by some of their nine grandchildren ranging in age from 20 years to 20 months!

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

Magana's Farm

Tovias Magana and his wife Teresa grew the delicious asparagus you enjoyed in June and the sweet cherries in your bag this week. As I interviewed Tovias, Teresa was out picking cherries and his sons David and Junior were at Pike Place Market selling Bing and Rainier cherries.

Tovias and his family, five daughters and three sons, have all helped or will help on the 27-acre farm in Sunnyside, WA. There, the hot sun grows a variety of vegetables like asparagus, corn, onions and tomatoes. Tovias also grows many different tree fruit on his farm: cherries, peaches, nectarines and apples.

His family farmed for many years in Mexico growing corn, beans, vegetables and raising cows and goats. Tovias always loved living in the country and growing vegetables, so he bought his first 14-acre farm 15 years ago. These days he is busy feeding and bringing joy into the lives of many others. He told me, "Every where I go, everybody is so happy". There is nothing like the taste and aroma of fresh picked peaches, cherries, tomatoes and onions.

One of his specialties is the Candy sweet onion. His customers always say how sweet the onions are even better than Walla Walla's. Tovias' two and a half year old daughter ate almost three onions and would have eaten more!

You will find Tovias at the Ballard Farmer's Market on Sundays, Issaquah on Saturdays, Renton on Tuesdays, and Kirkland on Wednesdays. Look for the Magana's Farm sign and tell him how much you enjoyed your asparagus and cherries.

Public Health: Seattle & King County, Senior Market Program Newsletter

Bolles Organic Farm

Kelly Bolles, one of our own DART drivers, has been supplying us with the delicious raspberries we had in our first farmer's market deliveries. He owns and operates Bolles Organic Farm on 15 acres in the Tualco Valley in Monroe. In addition to raspberries, he also grows strawberries and potatoes and is planning on putting in a blueberry crop. Kelly credits his Dad, who is now 81, as his inspiration to try his hand at farming. You can also see Kelly's produce at Pike Place Market on Wednesdays and at farmers markets in Redmond, Everett and Edmonds.

Senior Services of Snohomish County, Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program

Klesick Family Farm

Much of the produce you've received these past weeks is from the Klesick Family Farm in Machias. In addition to supplying Senior Services, every week Tristan Klesick delivers organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables to the doors of 300 customers throughout Snohomish County.

"We believe that if we can get a mom to skip McDonald's once a week and have a sit-down meal with her family, then we've done our job," Tristan said.

One of the reasons he started this business was to spend more time with his family.

Tristan's wife, Jolene, home-schools their children (they have six!) and the older kids help dad with the deliveries. This is a family operation in the truest sense of the word.

Tristan has been great to work with and he's as excited about this program as we are! We all hope you are enjoying your fresh fruits and vegetables.

Senior Services of Snohomish County, Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program