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The local food team shares articles, exclusive interviews, and project updates that tell the story of how we are building a stronger, more resilient local food system. To measure the success of local food programs, we have identified 10 indicators of success that measure how well we are doing in our efforts to create a stronger, more affordable food system. Each article is directly connected to one or more of our 10 indicators of success which are shown below and will also be shown in each article. Click on the indicator icons for more information about our initiative!
Stay updated with us as we bring you the local food news you need each month!
 Farm King County recently launched its Food Systems Data Center, which combines an interactive mapping platform with information and data on local agriculture to tell the story of King County’s farm and food system. Farm King County is a one stop resource for information and assistance for farm operations, and this data will be useful to better understand, analyze, and measure the healthy and viability of our food system. The major components of the data center include the King County Farm and Food System Map and food system indicator progress metrics.
Visit Farm King County's new Food Systems Data Center here.
Read DNRP's Local Food blog post about the launch here.
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 Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), which manages garbage, recycling, and food and yard waste within the City of Seattle, partnered with Mary’s Place to convene its first Food Rescue Innovation Lab in early November. The purpose of the Food Rescue Innovation Lab is to address the issues of uneaten, surplus food and food insecurity together through food rescue. The event brought together a diverse group of innovative thinkers to discuss opportunities and solutions for rescuing safe, edible food from garbage and composting streams and diverting it to address hunger in Seattle. We interviewed Liz Fikejs, SPU Senior Waste Prevention Program Manager, to learn more about the Food Rescue Innovation Lab and SPU’s efforts around food rescue.
Read DNRP's Local Food blog post about the lab here.
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 Carnation Farms was established in 1908 near its namesake town in the Snoqualmie River valley as a flagship dairy and genetic research center for decades. The farm was purchased in 1985 by Nestle and converted into a corporate retreat center. Descendants of the original owners purchased the farm back from Nestle in 2010 and created Carnation Farms as a nonprofit organization in 2016.
The new owners’ mission aims to return the farm back to its roots and transform the way people want to eat. They intend to share the 818-acre organic farm with the community and celebrate delicious and nutritious food produced in a sustainable manner by providing inspirational and educational experiences that positively affect health, the environment, and local economies. Find out more about Carnation Farms’ story and mission here.
Read DNRP's blog post about the farm and their programs here.
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 Apply for a grant to improve your farm business through the Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund! In partnership with HumanLinks Foundation, Tilth Alliance is accepting applications by farmers seeking financial assistance to support projects that will improve the economic viability, social impacts, or environmental sustainability of their farm businesses. The goal of this grant program is to enhance the operations of farmers practicing responsible and progressive methods such as sustainable soil management, crop diversification, habitat preservation, climate change mitigation and environmentally-safe waste management practices. Applications are being accepted through January 15, 2019. Learn about application requirements and apply HERE!
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 The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFM) was recently awarded the USDA Farmer's Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant for their project "Growing Sales to Farms in Changing Seattle," which will expand under-performing markets, increase sales opportunities to farmers, and aid in planning for the developing new farmers markets related to transit- oriented development projects as part of Seattle’s new light rail system. New or expanded markets will increase long term sales opportunities for current direct market farmers while also allowing new farmers to access the Seattle market. This project includes the work necessary to relocate the Capitol Hill Farmers Market, strengthen the Lake City Farmers Market, and explore weekday or commuter-focused offerings. NFM will use this body of work to determine and pursue additional opportunities for market offerings associated with transit stations opening in 2021 and beyond.
Read more about the project here.
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