sugar snap peas
As we move into the fourth year of implementation of Seattle’s Local Food Action Initiative (Resolution 31019), I plan to work on the following actions in 2011:
- Develop additional opportunities for expanding economic activity, marketing, and jobs in the local food economy including exploring how best to support Puget Sound Fresh.
- Increase connections between the city and local and regional farmers and increase ties with small and mid-sized farmers in Eastern Washington.
- Work with food system stakeholders to increase small-scale regional distribution that supports small farms and farmers.
- Continue to strengthen urban agriculture including developing a business directory of urban agriculture related businesses in Seattle, assisting in the development of an urban agriculture business association, and working to improve meeting the needs of emerging urban agriculture businesses.
- Develop additional strategies for preserving farmland to produce food for Seattle residents in partnership with entities such as the Pike Place Market.
- Take the next steps towards a Transfer of Development Rights program to protect farmland.
- Convene community partners, including food banks, working on hunger issues to identify next steps to meet immediate needs. Continue efforts to develop a long-range campaign for healthy food for all and to end hunger and poor nutrition, and a strategy for working with food banks to align their work towards increasing the food self-sufficiency of their clients.
- Develop additional strategies to identify and meet the needs of underserved communities by improving healthy food access and community building related to the food system.
- Ensure that healthy eating is supported in the Families and Education Levy as an important element in ensuring student success.
- Solicit community feedback, approve, and begin implementing a Food System Policy Plan. Work with the Department of Neighborhoods food staff person to identify and write grants and perform community outreach and policy development.
- Support the City’s Interdepartmental Team approach in coordinating work by City Departments on food issues.
- Develop indicators of success in transforming the food system.
- Work with immigrants, refugees, and associated organizations to expand opportunities for market gardening and farming.
- Develop a plan for a City-sponsored Community Supported Agriculture program.
- Continue to work with and encourage community—led projects and the CPPW and CFG funded projects, and support emerging project ideas such as the Atlantic Street Nursery farm.
- Update and begin implementation of the P-Patch Strategic Plan.
- Develop and adopt Phase 2 of the land use code changes to encourage food production and urban agriculture.
- Secure approval of state legislation exempting farmers markets from SEPA, defining the relationship between the Pike Place Market and farmers markets, and allowing cottage production of value-added food products.
- Work with OEM and regional partners to strengthen the regional plan for food reserves for emergencies.
- Find a new home for the Certificate in Urban Agriculture program, which will no longer be housed at Seattle Central Community College.
- Publish the Seattle Farm Bill Principles and work with local, regional, and national partners to encourage local governments and others to support them and advocate for appropriate policy in the renewal of the Farm Bill.
- Incorporate food system policies, goals, and implementation strategies in the Comprehensive Plan, revised Climate Action Plan, Neighborhood Plans, and Transportation planning.
- Work with the Board of Health to adopt healthy food guidelines for vending machines.
- Work with WSU to identify opportunities for partnership and connecting the work of WSU to urban agriculture.
- Assist in developing and implementing the work program for the Regional Food Policy Council and secure funding for the Council.
- Coordinate actions and policies between the City and King County.
- Consider how to take local food work to scale in transforming the local food system.