Contact

Seattle City Council Passes Local Food Action Initiative!

Over the four years members of the Seattle/King County Acting Food Policy Council have been raising awareness about local food system issues. This year, Seattle City Council's President Richard Conlin took on the issue of local food system sustainability in our city and crafted the Local Food Action Initiative. On April 28, 2008 the Council approved the resolution which could serve as model local legislation as local communities throughout the country continue to address community food security issues through public policy.

What does the Local Food Action Initiative Do?

The initiative creates a framework for actions to promote a more sustainable and secure food system for Seattle while also reducing the food system’s carbon footprint. The Local Food Action Initiative commits the City to join with King County and the Seattle-King County Board of Health to create a Food Policy Council and develop a Food Policy Action Plan. Actions to be pursued are focused around increasing the availability of locally grown healthy food, such as:

•Developing a Food Policy Action Plan which will identify policies, programs and opportunities to promote local food system sustainability and security

Developing a Regional Food Policy Council

Expanding resources for food banks

Strengthening local farmers’ markets

Developing solutions that will reduce the cost of food for urban consumers by making stronger connections between our rural and urban areas

Planning for better management of the food system in emergencies and disasters

For additional information about this initiative you can visit the council's website.