Act Now: Show Your Support for a WA Food Policy Council

We all have a unique opportunity this next week to get involved in shaping Washington’s food system policy! State Senator Jacobsen has introduced a bill–Senate Bill 6343–to establish a Washington Food Policy Council and there will be a hearing on the bill next Thursday, January 21 at 3:30 pm in Olympia. Be sure to share your support for this important legislation by getting in touch with your legislators. You can either call the Capital switchboard at 1-800-562-6000 or send your individual legislators an email. If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can find out which legislators serve your area by clicking here.

The advocacy efforts to support the formation of a Food Policy Council are being organized by the Good Food Coalition (the group that formed after 2008 passage of Local Farms, Healthy Kids legislation). Here’s a quick overview of the proposed legislation. To view the full language of the bill, click here. If you or your organization would like to endorse the bill, you can send this completed form to Ellen Gray at the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network - egray@wsffn.org.

Why do we need a Food Policy Council?

Our food system in Washington State is not working well and we need to do better. Food Policy Councils (FPCs) are being established at local & state levels throughout the country to address the food system challenges. Working across the different sectors of our food system, FPCs coordinate action among the many stakeholders that can expand production, consumption and access to Washington grown foods.

Multiple benefits can ensue, including job creation, keeping food dollars and tax revenue in-state, and improved health based upon improved access to healthy food.  A FPC would also position Washington State to take advantage of new federal dollars that support improved nutrition and food system integration.

What would a Washington Food Policy Council look like?

The proposed bill identifies representatives from 17 different sectors of our food system to work together to advance the following six food system goals here in Washington:

• to increase production, sales, and consumption of Washington grown foods;

• to develop and promote programs that bring healthy, Washington grown food to residents by increasing state purchasing of local food products for schools and public institutions;

• to reduce food insecurity and hunger in the state and ensure that the benefits of a healthy Washington food system are shared with families at all income levels, and particularly with vulnerable children, the elderly, people with disabilities and communities of color;

• to develop and promote programs that support healthy nutrition and avoid burdens of obesity and other diet-related diseases;

• to protect the land and water resources needed for sustained  local food production;

• to recruit and retain farmers and ensure an adequate agricultural workforce.

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