On Thursday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has introduced the first update to Seattle’s “Food Action Plan” since its inception in 2012, outlining a five-year strategy to address pressing challenges such as food insecurity, high food prices, and the environmental impact of food waste. The updated plan emphasizes advancing racial equity, mitigating climate change, and creating economic opportunities for local food producers while strengthening food security across the city.
“Food is not only a basic need but essential to good health and quality of life,” said Harrell. “We are building a city where all communities have access to fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant foods, regardless of race, neighborhood, or income. This updated plan reflects our commitment to food security, racial equity, and sustainability.”
The update comes at a critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep-seated inequities in the food system, particularly in Seattle’s communities of color. The Food Action Plan builds on the original 2012 plan, incorporating lessons learned from the pandemic, addressing climate impacts, and outlining strategies to strengthen local food systems. The plan is guided by four primary goals, each supported by actionable steps to be implemented by City departments:
• Increase Community Food Security: Ensure that all Seattle residents have enough to eat and access to fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant food. This includes strengthening food banks, meal programs, and procuring locally sourced, culturally relevant foods for schools.
• Support Locally Grown & Traditional Foods: Expand access to traditional Native and tribal foods, promote community-led food production, and increase equitable land access for agriculture.
• Advance an Equitable Local Economy: Support local food businesses, create well-paying jobs for food producers, and implement labor protections for farmworkers, with a focus on communities impacted by systemic racism.
• Prevent Food Waste & Climate Pollution: Reduce food-related waste and climate pollution by increasing composting, food rescue efforts, and partnerships with local businesses.
Collaborative Efforts and Community Voices
The development of the updated plan was a multi-year process involving more than 250 leaders from small food businesses, urban farms, community organizations, Tribes, and other stakeholders. Sara Osborne, Government & Public Affairs Director at Safeway/Albertsons, praised the collaborative nature of the initiative.
“We are humbled to play a role in the multi-sector collaboration that is integral to Seattle’s Food Action Plan,” Osborne said. “Our store teams have been longtime Fresh Bucks retailers, leaders in preventing waste and redistributing unsold food, and fundraisers for initiatives providing food security grants and grocery cards throughout Seattle. These efforts are only as successful as the partnerships we have with the city and community agencies, and we look forward to strengthening these programs through the updated Food Action Plan.”
One of the most significant features of the updated plan is its focus on racial and social equity. According to city data, 10% of Seattle adults experience food insecurity, with households of color being twice as likely to face food insecurity compared to white households. The plan specifically targets these disparities by increasing support for the communities most impacted by systemic racism.
City Councilmember Tanya Woo, Chair of the Sustainability, City Light, Arts & Culture Committee, emphasized the importance of addressing racial inequities in food access. “These are not just food deserts – this is food apartheid,
with lack of access following cultural lines,” said Woo. “The Plan’s actions will ensure every Seattle community has plenty of food, regardless of their culture.”
Jessyn Farrell, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment, echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for resilience. “This update ensures that all communities, especially the most overburdened, are food secure in good times and bad through a resilient local food system.”
Addressing Labor and Economic Equity
The updated Food Action Plan also focuses on supporting an equitable local economy by creating new opportunities for food producers and implementing strong labor protections. Raymond Williams, Managing Director of Black Farmers Collective, applauded the city’s focus on equity in land access and labor rights.
“We thank the community members and staff who worked so hard on this important plan,” said Williams. “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. Ensuring access to land for historically excluded communities is crucial for creating a fair and sustainable food system.”
The plan outlines specific actions to support farmworkers, small food businesses, and local food producers, especially those from marginalized communities. By centering economic opportunities in these communities, the City hopes to build a more equitable and resilient food economy.
Tackling Food Waste and Environmental Impacts
A core element of the updated plan is its focus on preventing food waste and reducing climate pollution. The plan emphasizes partnerships with local businesses to increase composting and food rescue operations, while promoting policies that prioritize environmental sustainability.
Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Executive Director of Rainier Valley Food Bank, highlighted the interconnection between food security, economic opportunity, and sustainability.
“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,” Hatcher-Mays said. “Ensuring those of us who work in the food insecurity sector can continue and evolve over time is crucial. This plan recognizes the interdependency of food insecurity, economic opportunity, and public safety. That’s sustainability, and creating processes and systems that can withstand impacts and continue to thrive—that’s resiliency.”
The Food Action Plan aims to reduce food waste by strengthening the city’s food rescue programs, building City-business partnerships to prevent food waste, and promoting the sustainable procurement of food for public programs.
Next Steps for the Food Action Plan
Mayor Harrell will soon present the updated Food Action Plan to the City Council for adoption. Once passed, City departments will begin implementing the plan through both existing and new programs. Key initiatives, such as Fresh Bucks, the Food Equity Fund, and expanded food rescue operations, will play crucial roles in achieving the plan’s goals.
Seattle Public Schools, a major partner in the plan, will work with the City to bring fresh, culturally relevant foods to students. Aaron Smith, Director of Culinary Services at Seattle Public Schools, emphasized the importance of this collaboration.
“By working together, we not only nourish the next generation but also support our local food producers, strengthening the community and creating a more inclusive food system for all,” Smith said.
