Specializing in food systems planning, our team is interested in projects that improve local food economies and increase equitable access to food.
The food system covers all the interconnected steps of food travel – from the farm to our plates to the landfill (or compost bin). To ensure the vitality of the food system, strong links are needed between food policy, planning, and activities on-the-ground. It also means ensuring that broader goals of sustainability are integrated into the overall process. A complete systems approach considers growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming, recycling and disposing of food and food packaging.
As food system planners, our work addresses an intersection of environmental, economic, social and health challenges. Sample projects that could improve the food system include addressing public health and access issues in the built environment, farmland preservation, incorporating food system issues into comprehensive plans and policies, and establishing producer-consumer links that support the local food shed, such as farmers markets and CSAs.
Types of service we provide:
- Community Food System Assessments (FSAs) — a systems assessment based on quantitative and qualitative data, including community input.
- Project Development & Technical Assistance — identify project tools and resources and develop an implementation plan.
- GIS Analysis — tailored to project need; examples include identifying suitable lands for community gardens or delineating food-insecure areas.
- Fund Development — identify potential funding sources and investors; provide application assistance.
- Plan and Policy Assessment — evaluate existing plans, policies and zoning ordinances to incorporate community food system needs/goals.
Projects:
Healthy Foods Here, a business incentive program designed to increase the availability of fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food in local corner stores, particularly in low-income communities ~ project design and technical assistance for the Public Health - Seattle & King County program that is funded through Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW).
Delridge Healthy Corner Store Project ~ project development and implementation.
See Delridge Healthy Corner Store Project: A Toolkit for Community Organizers and Storeowners, 2009
King County Agriculture Commission and Department of Natural Resources and Parks ~ survey development and analysis of farmers’ perspectives on local farming conditions and challenges.
King County Food and Fitness Initiative ~ community food system assessment with team of graduate students and member of the Healthy Retail Strategy Team.
See Food for Thought: Groundwork for the King County Food and Fitness Initiative, 2008
Lake Forest Park Farmers Market ~ project development and implementation of Market Bucks, a project focused on increasing food stamp usage at the market.
See Katie Murdoch, “It’s Agreed: LFP Farmers Market Season a Success,” Shoreline Enterprises, October 7, 2009.
United Way of King County ~ GIS analysis of food security issues in North King County.
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