Mayor Harrell Releases Updated “Food Action Plan” to Guide City Policies and Programs, Increase Food Security in Seattle

Seattle, WA - Today, Mayor Harrell released the first ever update to the City of Seattle's "Food Action Plan," which will guide City departments over the next five years to implement programs and policies to alleviate high rates of food insecurity, historically high food prices, the negative impacts of excessive food waste on the environment, and more.

"Food is not only a basic need, but essential to good health and quality of life. We are building a city where all communities have access to fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant foods regardless of their race, neighborhood, or income," said Mayor Harrell. "I deeply appreciate the One Seattle collaboration between our community partners and City staff on this updated Food Action Plan to advance innovative food solutions that center racial equity, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Working together, we are committed to following the Plan's guidelines to increase food security, support local food businesses, and prevent food waste to create healthy, thriving communities."

WATCH: 2024 Food Action Plan

Building on the original Food Action Plan created in 2012, the update newly addresses the impacts of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial and social inequities in food security. The updated plan is driven by four goals with 47 accompanying actions:

1. Increase Community Food Security to ensure all Seattle residents have enough to eat and easy access to fresh, affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The Plan outlines actions to accomplish this, including purchasing locally sourced and culturally relevant foods for schools and strengthening food banks and meal programs.

1. Support Locally Grown & Traditional Foods through City policies and programs, including expanding traditional Native and tribal foods access, community-led food production, and locally grown crops. The Plan recommends increasing equitable land access for agricultural projects, purchasing food from tribal groups for City food programs, and more.

1. Advance an Equitable Local Economy within the Seattle food system through programs that will create new, well-paying jobs for local food producers, focusing economic opportunities in communities most impacted by racism. The update details actions for the City, including implementing strong labor protections for farmworkers and strengthening assistance for small food businesses.

1. Prevent Food Waste & Climate Pollution in Seattle to protect and improve the environment by preventing and reducing food-related waste and climate pollution. The update recommends actions including increasing composting, strengthening food rescue operations, and creating City-businesses partnerships to prevent food waste.

Updating the Food Action Plan was a multi-year process that involved collaboration between the City of Seattle and more than 250 leaders and food system experts representing small food businesses, urban farms, community-based organizations, Tribes, institutions, and a variety of community groups and coalitions.

"As Seattle continues to grapple with food access and affordability challenges, Byrd Barr Place and other organizations are witnessing firsthand the growing need for food security in our community," said Angela Griffin, CEO of Byrd Barr Place. "Access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods is not just a necessity but a right. Our commitment to a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient local food system underscores the importance of a comprehensive Food Action Plan that can address these critical issues and support the well-being of all our neighbors."

There are several new features in the updated Plan. The first is the emphasis on racial and social equity. In Seattle, 10% of adults experience food insecurity, and households of color are twice as weekly to experience food insecurity than white households.

Additionally, the new plan focuses on transformative approaches to address food system resilience and climate action based on recent experiences and research. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and worsened existing weaknesses in the food system, affecting socioeconomic and food security and supply chains. Meanwhile, food production and food waste have significant impacts on the environment and climate, and in turn, climate change and severe weather events have major impacts on the food system. The updated plan includes mutually reinforcing actions to strengthen food security programs, shift procurement to sustainable foods and local producers, prevent food waste, and support effective and efficient implementation across City departments.

"With our changing climate and recent pandemic experience, we know that things are not the same now as they were in 2012. That's why a major part of this Food Action Plan update is ensuring all communities, especially the most overburdened, are food secure in good times and bad through a resilient local food system," saidJessyn Farrell, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE). "Understanding community needs and solutions required close collaboration with residents and local groups in every Seattle neighborhood over many years. The City is incredibly thankful to all the community partners who offered their insights for their service, partnership, and invaluable knowledge."

Next, Mayor Harrell will transmit the updated Food Action Plan to City Council to vote on adopting it as a resolution. Once adopted, City of Seattle departments will begin implementing the actions outlined in the Plan through new and existing programs.

For more information about the City's nationally recognized food programs, visit: Fresh Bucks, Farm to Preschool, Food Equity Fund, Food Rescue Innovation.

Read the full updated Food Action Plan on OSE's website at seattle.gov/food-action-plan.

The City's ongoing food work is supported by General Fund, Sweetened Beverage Tax, and some state and federal dollars. We also regularly pursue competitive, external funding opportunities private and federal funding. Seattle is considered a national leader in prioritizing funding for food work, investing over $30 million each year from all funding sources to support our ongoing, core food work. This includes the funding for food security programs, community gardening (like P-Patches), and food rescue efforts.

What People Are Saying

"Across the City of Seattle, far too many families struggle to find affordable and nutritious foods, particularly culturally relevant food for our immigrant residents and communities of color. These are not just food deserts - this is food apartheid, with lack of access following cultural lines. The updated Food Action Plan prioritizes increasing racial and social equity in Seattle by strengthening local food systems, starting in the most overburdened communities. The Plan's actions will ensure every Seattle community has plenty of food, regardless of their culture. As Chair of the Sustainability, City Light, Arts & Culture Committee, I look forward to introducing this update to my fellow council members for us to adopt it as a formal resolution."  -City Councilmember Tanya Woo

"As we release the Food Action Plan, I am filled with hope and confidence in our collective ability to ensure Seattle residents have access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food. This plan is a testament to the power of community collaboration, reflecting the voices and priorities of those we serve. We are deeply committed to addressing the disparities that too often leave our neighbors hungry. By working together, the City of Seattle is paving the way for a more equitable, food-secure future for all." -Tanya Kim, Seattle Human Services Department Director

"Seattle Public Utilities is committed to sustainability. We're pleased to be working with community partners to reduce food waste and tackle climate action head on. Keeping food out of landfills reduces carbon emissions. The Food Action Plan supports this goal, as well as ways to save money for businesses and households, strengthen hunger relief efforts, and foster our City's resilience." -Andrew Lee, General Manager & CEO of Seattle Public Utilities

"At Department of Neighborhoods, we believe in the power of investing in communities to forge their own solutions. Whether you're a P-Patch gardener or Food Equity Fund grant recipient, we know our City's local food system is more vibrant when communities who experience the most food inequities are leading the way. We're thankful for all the community partners and leaders that have made the Food Action Plan possible and look forward to working alongside our City partners in the implementation phase." - Jenifer Chao, Director of Department of Neighborhoods

"Seattle's 2024 Food Action Plan touches on our region's critical food system challenges, including racial and social disparities, food insecurity, and food waste," said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "This Plan not only aligns with the King County Local Food Initiative and Strategic Climate Action Plan, but also bolsters our ongoing efforts to increase access to nutritious, locally and sustainably grown foods, coordinate emergency feeding efforts, and promote food safety practices." -Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health of Seattle & King County

"The partnership between the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools is vital in achieving our shared vision of ensuring every student has access to healthy, fresh, and culturally relevant meals. By working together, we not only nourish the next generation but also support our local food producers, strengthening the community and creating a more sustainable and inclusive food system for all." -Aaron Smith, Director of Culinary Services, Seattle Public Schools

"The updated Food Action Plan really lifts up the voices of our Seattle communities, focusing on cultural diversity while addressing the important need for healthy and affordable foods for lower income and working families." -Tanika Thompson Bird, Campaign Director of Got Green and Co-Chair of Seattle's Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board

"The Food Action Plan outlines a holistic framework to strengthen our local food system in ways that support and benefit all members of the community, especially those facing structural and historic inequities. This long-awaited update shows a nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness of people, place, and policy in achieving community health. The Farm to Preschool team valued the opportunity to provide input during plan development, and we are hopeful it will offer a collaborative roadway to a more vibrant and resilient Seattle." -Kelly Okumura, Coordinator for Seattle Farm to Preschool Program

"We are humbled to play a role in the multi-sector collaboration that is integral to Seattle's Food Action Plan. Our store teams are proud to have been longtime Fresh Bucks retailers, leaders in preventing waste and redistributing unsold food, as well as fundraisers for our initiatives to provide food security grants and grocery cards throughout Seattle. We know these efforts are only as successful as the partnerships we have with the city and community agencies, and we look forward to working within the Food Action Plan to further strengthen these programs." - Sara Osborne, Government & Public Affairs Director at Safeway/Albertsons

"Seattle's updated Food Action Plan provides an impressive vision of how we can all pursue equity, sustainability, and resilience for our City and region. Food and food systems can truly act as unifying themes for communities, and the Plan's level of detail provides clear goals and strategies to connect, learn, and contribute positively - which many of us at the University of Washington anticipate doing with students across the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program, among others. I'm grateful for the supportive leadership of our City and offer a huge note of appreciation for the essential community insights that were shared and incorporated." -Yona Sipos, Associate Teaching Professor & Associate Director of Undergraduate Experiential Learning; Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program at University of Washington, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health

"The City of Seattle Food Action Plan is a solid and comprehensive strategy towards the creation of an emergent food system in the greater Seattle area. It will promote both equity and sovereignty; creating balance and choice, is inclusive, and expands the definition of cultural relevancy. It is vision oriented and combines equitable food distribution and education, with food recovery, an expertise and understanding of respectful food offerings, as well as a healthy dose of experience and enthusiasm! The Plan is a forward-thinking objective whose time has come, and will be instrumental in ending hunger and food discrimination in our richly diverse community." -Beverly Graham, CEO of OSL Serves and Chair of Seattle's Meals Partnership Coalition

"We're proud to partner with the city of Seattle to increase food access in the places where our communities live, work, and play. We appreciate that the FAP takes a holistic approach to improving food security in our city, addressing both immediate needs and working to resolve systemic issues." -Elsa Young, Food Security Impact Manager at United Way of King County

"We thank the community members and staff who worked so hard on this important plan. We are encouraged that it highlights the need for equitable land access, food system education, and the fair treatment of the people who bring us our food." -Raymond Williams, Managing Director of Black Farmers Collective

"The Seattle Food Action Plan highlights all the ways that our community can ensure no one goes hungry and everyone has healthy, culturally relevant, fresh food on their tables. With record need at local food banks, the Washington Food Coalition is excited to see that this plan connects the dots between sustainable production, economic opportunity, and equitable food access for all." -Trish Twomey, Executive Director of Washington Food Coalition

"The updated Food Action Plan is based on a process that involved consulting with stakeholders including community-based organizations. CBOs are by and for frontline communities, therefore this plan provides great guidance, closest to our needs, especially when it comes to access to cultural foods and resiliency. Other plans should follow this example." -César Garcia, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Lake City Collective

"Food banks throughout the city are experiencing skyrocketing demand. Food banks, meal programs, and other agencies in Seattle are innovating and adapting to provide more food and support, yet meeting the growing need is challenging to sustain. To ensure equitable access to food, we must address systemic racism and systemic injustices that are at the root of poverty. The Seattle Food Action Plan presents an overarching roadmap for addressing these injustices and strengthening our food system. At Ballard Food Bank, we believe that food is a basic human right and that there can be enough for everyone." - Jen Muzia, Executive Director of Ballard Food Bank

"We are so glad to see the City of Seattle leading with their values that place people and the planet at the forefront of our food system. We look forward to helping implement these action items, and for Seattle to lead on initiatives that move us toward a resilient, sustainable, and just local food economy that makes good food available for all." - Mariah DeLeo, Good Food Economy Program Director, Seattle Good Business Network

"The future of food security lies in our ability to plan strategically. The Seattle Food Action Plan is not just a framework, but a collective endeavor to build a more just and sustainable food system. By prioritizing equitable access, environmental stewardship, and community resilience, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the groundwork for long-term systemic change. At Solid Ground, we are proud to be part of this collaborative effort, working with the Seattle Food Committee and our community partners to turn these ambitious goals into tangible outcomes that uplift all Seattle residents." -Yamila Sterling, Director of Food Access & Education at Solid Ground and Staff to the Seattle Food Committee

"I am excited to know the updated Food Action Plan was built by community, and that it is strongly aligned with FareStart's mission of transforming lives and nourishing communities through food and job training - from centering community food security to bolstering local supply chains and supporting an equitable food economy for workers, businesses, and residents. Moreover, I am hopeful about the opportunities for coordinated action across the sector in achieving an equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system this plan presents through its proposed actions."
- Emily Penna, Senior Manager of Food Security Initiatives at FareStart

"We support the Food Action Plan because seven days a week, we see the importance of offering accessible, culturally appropriate food to marginalized communities. We are honored to offer over 50,000 free meals and 70,000 bags of groceries in a way that welcomes our neighbors, helps protect the land, and introduces clients to other beneficial services. The proposed strategic actions of strengthening the capacity of meal programs and food banks and prioritizing food access for unsheltered populations is exactly what our resilient downtown agency needs!"
- Mason Lowe, Deputy Director of Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank

"I'm encouraged and hopeful to see the City of Seattle's Food Action Plan ensure food security while addressing issues and concerns along the continuum of getting food from the source to the tables of our community members, especially the most vulnerable among us. I am grateful to see the plan recognize our very diverse community and its need for culturally relevant food and providing means to access them. The plan's conscientious effort to respect people and our planet in its priorities and strategic actions is promising and deserves the support of the community it aims to serve."
-G De Castro, Deputy Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service

"The Food Action Plan recognizes that food is never just food - it is culture and history, health and economic outcomes, and a record of past injustices. Seattle is home to a deep bench of community organizations and people working to advance a more conscientious food system, and this plan gives us all a framework for working with City teams to accomplish our shared goals." -Jennifer Antos, Executive Director of Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets

"This plan is a realization that the City and its community partners recognize the interdependency of food insecurity, economic opportunity, and public safety. Ensuring that those of us who work in the food insecurity sector will be able to continue and evolve over time to continuously improve and maintain the interdependencies - bringing all in the system along together - that's sustainability; and creating processes and systems that withstand impacts and continue to thrive - that's resiliency. I am excited to work with the Mayor, City Council, and my peers in realizing the vision of this plan. The City is making a strategic statement about the priority of investments related to a healthy community through investments in the pillars of a food secure community." - Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Executive Director of Rainier Valley Food Bank

"The 2024 Food Action Plan is an ambitious and necessary policy agenda that addresses the key challenges Seattle and our regional food system will face in the coming decade, including food security, racial and cultural equity, economic viability, and climate change. As a Seattle-based food hub, Farmstand Local Foods is excited to partner with the city to support a thriving community for people, farms, nonprofits, and businesses." -Chris Teeny, General Manager & Co-owner of Farmstand Local Foods

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