Local Food Action Initiative

In the Works/Accomplishments

• Local Food Action Initiative Home
• In the Works/ Accomplishments
• Get Involved!
• Calendar of Events

• Integrating Food Policy in Comprehensive Planning: Strategies and Resources for the City of Seattle
• Download a Local Food Action Initiative Handout
• Urban Agriculture Business Forum Video
• Local Food Action Initiative Council blog posts
• Farm Bill Council blog posts

The City and community partners have taken action to meet the Initiative’s ten goals. These are only a few examples of what we have done.

For more details, read:

• Citywide Accomplishments
• 2011 Key Actions
• 2010 Key Actions
• 2009 Key Actions
• 2008 Key Actions

• Declaring 2010 as the Year of Urban Agriculture, engaging the public, providing resources, and encouraging people to grow food.
• Adding $2 million to the Parks Levy to expand the City’s P-Patch community garden program.
• Converting the seven acre, City-owned Atlantic Street Nursery into Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands.

• Working with the King County Board of Health to adopt healthy food guidelines for vending machines.
• Establishing a farmers market at City Hall.

• Establishing a Regional Food Policy Council at the Puget Sound Regional Council.
• Supporting the development of a coordinated work plan among various City departments through the City’s Food Systems Interdepartmental Team.

• Developing the Seattle Farm Bill Principles and encouraging other local governments and partners to advocate for appropriate policy in the federal Farm Bill’s renewal.
• Adopting land use code changes for community gardens, urban agriculture, farmers markets, and small/mid-sized grocery stores.
• Assisting neighborhoods to include community food planning in the neighborhood plan process.

• Modifying the Seattle Green Factor by offering a bonus for food production, including green roofs.
• Authorizing a pilot program to collect food waste in multi-family buildings, starting in 2013.
• Starting development of a Transfer of Development Rights agreement with King County to protect farms that provide produce for Seattle farmers markets.

• Offering business incentives and assistance to increase the amount of healthy food available in corner stores.
• Developing an urban agriculture business directory.

Many City of Seattle departments are taking action toward a stronger food system:
the Department of Neighborhoods, Office of Economic Development, Department of Planning and Development, Seattle Department of Transportation, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Sustainability and Environment, Seattle Public Utilities, Human Services Department.

We also work with many non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies, including the Regional Food Policy Council, King County, Puget Sound Regional Council, the Growth Management Planning Council, Public Health-Seattle & King County, King County Conservation District, the University of Washington, Washington State University Extension, and community colleges. Beyond these groups, thousands of residents and numerous of food and agriculture businesses and organizations participate in this work.