Chapter 1 - Introduction

Since the early 1800s, agriculture has been a cornerstone of life in Snohomish County. Farms in the county have produced milk, eggs, chickens, hogs, beef, berries, row crops, hay, nursery crops, and vegetables such as corn, peas, and pumpkins. There are over 63,000 acres of active farmland in Snohomish County. These acres support 1,558 farms. While 85 percent of these farms are less than 50 acres, sizes vary and some farms are as large as 2,000 acres. Agricultural products grown on these acres sell for over $157 million per year. Agriculture is an important component of the Snohomish County community, both socially and economically.