Market manager Peg Tennant has been promoted to the Washington State Food Safety Advisory Council, according to a joint press release by the boards of directors for the Coupeville Farmers Market and the Oak Harbor Farmers Market.

Tennant was appointed to the food safety advisory council position in September.

“With this new appointment, Peg will be working to improve food safety rules for the entire state,” the press release said.

“We are equally proud to announce that, in February 2018, Ms. Tennant was elected by her peers to the board of directors of the WSFMA, on the merits of her hard work and dedication to farmers markets in our state and local communities.’

In June 2018, Tennant was assigned to the planning committee for the 2019 WSFMA Conference.

“Peg’s depth of experience as a market manager and passionate advocacy for farmers will be a real guiding star for the organization,” said WSFMA Executive Director Colleen Donovan.

“She deeply appreciates how each farmers market is rooted in a particular place and how that translates into daily operations, market policies, and how best to serve local shoppers.”

“I know Peg will be a tremendous asset to helping us all move forward in experienced, grounded and creative ways,” Donovan said.

Tennant moved to Whidbey Island from Hawaii with her family in 1964. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1973 and attended college in Iowa, where she lived for 20 years.

Tennant returned to Whidbey in 1993, helping a high school friend vend at the CFM before becoming a vendor-baker herself for three years.

At that time she was asked to become the market manager for both markets, and has now served in that capacity for almost 20 years.

“Tennant believes in the importance of local food, and the crucial interactions of community, food and farmers,” according to the press release.

“She is a strong advocate for the OHFM and CFM local vendor cooperative association model, meaning they are owned and run by the vendor membership.”

Tennant said she is looking forward to guiding the future of farmers markets in Washington.

“My past has brought me brilliantly to here,” she said.