Eat Local First centers Washington farms this September with tours, tastings, and a global award-winning nod to Washington’s food scene
Eat Local First kicks off its fourth annual Eat Local Month fresh off international recognition — winner of the Best Digital Innovation award at the World Agritourism Awards, the only U.S. recipient this year
SEATTLE, Wash. — Starting September 1, Washingtonians can walk working farms across the state, seek out hyper-local dishes at restaurants participating in the new “Get a Taste of Washington State” campaign, and connect directly with the farmers, fishers, and producers behind their food — all part of Eat Local First’s fourth annual Eat Local Month.
The celebration comes on the heels of international recognition. This June, Eat Local First Program Director Maressa Valliant traveled to Aberdeen, Scotland, to accept the Best Digital Innovation award at the World Agritourism Awards, presented at the Global Agritourism Conference, recognizing the organization’s WA Food & Farm Finder — an interactive digital map connecting Washington residents directly with the farmers, fishers, and producers behind their food. Valliant was the only U.S. recipient of the award this year.
Now, Eat Local First is bringing that momentum home. Following Governor Bob Ferguson’s 2026 proclamation, September 1 kicks off the organization’s fourth annual Eat Local Month, a statewide celebration inviting Washingtonians to shop, visit, and support the makers who nurture the state’s food systems.
“What excites me most is watching people visit a farm for the first time, or order a hyper-local dish this September and realize how much care goes into their food. That connection, between eater and grower, is the whole point of Eat Local Month.” Maressa Valliant, Program Director, Eat Local First
Farm tours are happening across Washington throughout September, giving residents and visitors alike a firsthand look at the working farms behind their food — from farmer-led walks and U-pick vegetables to animal encounters and flower cutting. Eat Local First’s event calendar is chock-full of a wide array of opportunities to savor, learn and have fun!
Restaurants across the state are joining in, too. As part of the brand new “Get a Taste of Washington State” campaign, participating Farm-to-Table restaurants, including Barking Frog at Willows Lodge in Woodinville and Billie’s Diner in Airway Heights, will spotlight hyper-locally sourced dishes throughout September. The full list of participating restaurants is available on Eat Local First’s digital map.
To go deeper on the people behind the plate, Eat Local First’s recent video series features makers from Walla Walla, Kitsap County, and NE Washington.
Hi-res imagery and logos are available here, credit to Eat Local First.
About Eat Local First
Eat Local First is a Washington State campaign built on a simple idea: eating local means knowing the farmers, fishers, and producers behind your food. Launched by Sustainable Connections’ Food & Farming Program in 2011, Eat Local First has grown into a statewide advocate for local producers, helping Washingtonians shop and connect with local makers through food adventures, farm tours, and more. Its interactive digital map, the WA Food & Farm Finder, makes it easier than ever to find working farms, creameries, co-ops, and more, making regional food sourcing easier than ever before.
