Vision and Mission

Vision

The Tacoma Farmers Market envisions:

• A Pierce County where farmland is actively preserved and where local farms grow and thrive
• That all residents, regardless of income, will have reliable access to fresh, healthy food, and celebrate its place in our community
• An affordable and accessible path to business ownership that reflects Pierce County’s rich diversity

Equity Statement

As leaders and participants in Tacoma’s food system and business community, we commit to investing in social and racial equity. We recognize that sustainable agriculture and small business ownership are historically connected to communities of color, migrants, and indigenous groups. Meaningful partnership with these communities is essential in the creation of equitable marketplaces. Our markets help achieve equity by confronting bias and discrimination, and prioritizing opportunities that promote justice and fairness for communities of color.

The Tacoma Farmers Market recognizes that intolerance and discrimination are present in our social, political, and economic systems. This historic and ongoing bias leads to unequal access in areas such as food, housing, health, and education. Though we strive to challenge all oppressions, we believe that racial prejudice worsens injustice in our society and a focus on racism is an urgent need.

We understand that injustice in our food system will continue to be reflected in our markets unless we and our partners confront historic inequality. We strive to create vibrant marketplaces that are inclusive of communities across Pierce County.

To achieve equity in our region, we commit to:

• Addressing barriers in our programs, practices, and policies that prevent the inclusion of communities most affected by racial inequity
• Creating an accessible and supportive path to business ownership
• Integrating diverse voices in our decision making processes
• Continuing to educate ourselves and participate in community dialogues on equity, especially within our local food system

Our commitment is to achieve meaningful racial equity work within our organization. We will continue to learn and evolve our perspectives and behaviors to achieve this goal.

As we continue to educate ourselves and assess our organization, we will:

• Create an Equity Committee to help guide our work in this area
• Use a racial equity lens in our decision making processes
• Prioritize the inclusion of diverse communities in our organization and our markets
• Maximize equitable opportunities and reduce discrimination in our programs and policies

We invite collaboration and welcome accountability as we challenge ourselves in this work.