Food Action Plan
What is the Food Action Plan?
The Food Action Plan (Plan) is the City of Seattle's roadmap for an equitable, sustainable, and resilient local food system that supports healthy, vibrant communities.
The Plan outlines actions the City can take to improve our local food system while advancing interrelated goals of racial and social justice, food security, food sovereignty, health, environmental sustainability, economic development, fair labor, and more. The Plan is also a framework to coordinate and align many City departments that manage food programs and policies.
Food Action Plan Update
Last updated: May 31, 2024
In 2021, the Food Action Plan Interdepartmental Team (IDT) began a process to update the Plan for the first time since 2012. After two years of community engagement, racial equity analyses, and workshops with other government agencies, the updated Food Action Plan is almost here! Look for a release date in later this summer 2024.
The updated Plan will continue the City's focus on increasing food security, supporting local food and the economy, and preventing food waste. New content, priorities, and approaches in the updated Plan will include:
- A focus on addressing economic, racial, and environmental injustices in the food system.
- Actions that respond to a variety of interrelated food system challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
- Guiding Food Justice Values developed by Seattle's Environmental Justice Committee.
A final draft of the updated Plan is now being reviewed by government officials. A public release date is still being determined and is expected later this year.
Community Engagement
Thank you to the more than 250 community leaders and representatives from community-based organizations, coalitions, businesses, and institutions who provided expertise and input to help develop the forthcoming Food Action Plan Update.
Key themes from the 2021-2022 community engagements are summarized in the select reports and presentations listed below:
- Community Engagement Report Back Presentation (July 12 & July 15, 2022)
- Community Engagement Full Report
- Community Leader Interviews Report
- NEW - Native Foods Listening Session Report (published May 31, 2024)
In July and August 2022, key themes from community engagement were used to develop an early draft Strategic Priorities and Actions document, which was made available for public comment. The public comments can be viewed here: seattlefoodactionplan.consider.it.
Racial Equity Toolkits
In 2021-2022, two Racial Equity Toolkits (RETs) were completed to analyze how the Food Action Plan could impact racial equity across the food system. The RETs focused on the community engagement process and the issue areas within the Plan itself:
- Food Action Plan Issue Areas: 2022 RET and 2022 RET Summary
- Food Action Plan Community Engagement: 2021 RET Summary Sheet
2012 Food Action Plan
Seattle's first Food Action Plan was developed in 2012 and intended to be a five-year roadmap to increase access to affordable, healthy, culturally appropriate food; expand opportunities to grow food in the City; strengthen our regional food economy; and reduce food-related waste.
Food Policies and Programs
The Food Action Plan is implemented by multiple City departments working in collaboration with many community partners and other institutions. The plan aims to align with other City initiatives including the Comprehensive Plan, Duwamish Valley Program, Equity & Environment Initiative, Green New Deal, Race and Social Justice Initiative, and 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update.
Click on the links below to visit the webpages of major food-related policies and programs across the City.
Food Security
- Child Care Nutrition Program, which is part of USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Children and Youth Summer Food Service Program
- Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Farm to Preschool
- Food Banks and Meal Programs
- Food Insecurity Disparities Data and Research
- Fresh Bucks
- Healthy Food in Schools
- Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board
Urban Agriculture & Land Use
- Compost and soil services
- Comprehensive Plan
- P-Patch Community Gardening
- Urban Food Systems (UFS) Program
Economic Development and Labor
- Business District Initiatives
- Commisary Kitchens Locator
- Food Business Support
- Food Safety Program
- Seattle Labor Standards
Food Waste Prevention, Rescue, and Composting
- Prevent Food Waste at Home
- Food Rescue Innovation
- Compost Food Waste at Home
- Compost Collection at Businesses
City grant programs focused on food
Other City grant programs that will consider proposals for food-related work