Seattle's Local Food Action Initiative

In April of this year, Seattle's Local Food Action Initiative was passed. The initiative promotes and strengthens local farmers markets; expands resources for food banks, as well as providing an outlet for food that would have otherwise gone to the dumps to be regenerated as compost via a relationship with Seattle Public Utilities; strengthens the connections between those that produce food and those that consume it; makes nutritious, fresh foods accessible; reduces environmental impacts; secures food in times of disasters and much more.

The initiative stressed regional cooperation, community and connections by getting many institutions (Seattle Public Utilities, food banks, Seattle Tilth, Port of Seattle, etc.), and the public involved in the sustainability conversation. These terms were being used a lot, for instance strengthening the direct transaction of produce by the farmer to the consumer would thereby build connections between the community and the farmers and promote a tighter-knit community, and through the community, consumer supported agriculture (CSA) would increase the local economy, and so on and so on. Its a great initiative because it makes Seattle more self-sufficient, it increases social equity by increasing access to local foods and encourages food to be grown within the Seattle area.

To learn more on this initiative you can download the podcast with Richard Conlin, President of Seattle's City Council and Diane Horn on demand. Or visit KEXPdotORG and check out KEXP's other episodes on their Mind Over Matters Sustainability Segment in the podcast achieves.

Vera Tran