HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2023-018File ID:
File Created:
Department:
Assigned to:
Agenda Date:
AB2023-294
04/14/2023
Health Department
Whatcom County
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2023-294
Version:
Entered by: JGay@co.whatcom.wa.us
File Type: Resolution
Council Public Works & Health Committee
07/25/2023
Primary Contact Email: ajcnsen@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Status: Approved
Final Action: 07/25/2023
Enactment#: RES 2023-018
Resolution adopting the Food System Plan created by the Whatcom County Food System Committee
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution adopting the Food System Plan created by the Whatcom County Food System Committee
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
04/25/2023 Council Public Works & Health
Committee
Aye:
Nay:
04/25/2023 Council
Aye:
Nay:
07/25/2023 Council Public Works & Health
Committee
Aye:
Nay:
07/25/2023 Council
Aye:
Nay:
Whatcom County
3
0
7
0
3
0
7
0
Action:
RECOMMENDED TO HOLD
IN COMMITTEE
Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
HELD IN COMMITTEE
Sent To:
Council Public Works & Health
Committee
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL
Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
APPROVED
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Page 1 Printed on 7126/2023
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued ( AB2023-294)
Attachments:
Whatcom County
Staff Memo for 4.25.2023, Proposed Resolution, Presentation on 4.11.2023 (from AB2023-221 ),
Exhibit A -Food System Plan for 4.25.2023, Staff Memo for 7.25.2023, Edits to the Food System
Plan for 7.25.2023, Revised Food System Plan for 7.25.2023
Pagel Printed on 7126/2023
PROPOSED BY: ______ _
INTRODUCED: _______ _
RESOLUTION NO. _2_o_23_-_Ol_S_
ADOPTING THE FOOD SYSTEM PLAN CREATED BY THE WHATCOM
COUNTY FOOD SYSTEM COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, Goal 7L in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan calls for the County to
"Strengthen the local food system and take steps to improve conditions for a healthy, resilient,
and prosperous food economy"; and continues on Policy Goal 7L-8 which states "Support
establishment of communitywide food system development plans"; and
WHEREAS, on November 7th, 2018, the Whatcom County Council adopted Ordinance 2018-
058, establishing the Whatcom County Food System Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Food System Committee has been tasked with developing a Food System Plan
for Whatcom County; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County has a proud tradition of agricultural excellence and deserves a
food system that supports our local food economy; and
WHEREAS, the economics section of the County comprehensive plan calls for a county-wide
food system plan; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed and highlighted the inequities and imperfections
in our food system; and
WHEREAS, Federal and State programs for those impacted by COVID-19 have ended, leaving
families faced with choosing between paying for food or rent; and
WHEREAS, local farmers, grocers, food banks and other businesses connected to Whatcom's
food system could benefit from intentional, well-planned actions on the part of the County; and
WHEREAS, the Food System Committee updated the Community Food Assessment in 2021,
identifying inconsistencies and opportunities in the food system; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom Food System Committee interviewed over 200 subject matter experts
working on the front lines of our food system to develop this plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that the Food
Page 1
System Plan be adopted, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and be administered by the Whatcom
County Health and Community Services Department with oversight by the Whatcom County
Food System Committee and the Whatcom County Council under the authority of the County
Executive.
_Ju_ly~ __ , 20 23.
Daffa.Brown-n~\,fstfi:erk,"of the Council
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/s/Royce Buckingham approved via e-mail on 4/24/23/MR
Royce Buckingham, Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Page2
Life in Whatcom County
has revolved around food
since the first Lummi
fishing net dipped into the
water. It is a commitment
we made as a community
from the first day Ben and
Dorothy Haggen opened
their grocery store in
1933, or Hemplers wrapped their first sausage,
or Ed and Aileen Bransma milked their first pail
of Edaleens milk. It is a belief churned into the
soil of our raspberry fields,
and served fresh in our
that shares that commitment to supporting our
local food system. For too long, policy relating
to food was handled in silos -blockaded into
sectors by habit, bureaucracy, or neglect. If we
as a community wanted to make our food system
more resilient, we· needed to take a much broader
approach.
In short, we needed a plan. Built by locals, for
locals.
This document is not filled with plug-and-play
policies from other places. It is the result of
hundreds of conversations
with the people in our
restaurants each night.
From farmer to factory and
from shelf to spoon, the
heartbeat of our county
rises and falls with our food
system and has since time
immemorial.
But as we move forward
into this new era, there are
mighty forces that threaten
to destabilize our food
system. Devastating market
swings impact our local
farmers, harsh weather
events -made even more
dangerous by the growing
impacts of climate change
"For too long, policy
relating to food was
handled in silos -
blockaded into sectors
by habit, bureaucracy,
or neglect. If we as a
community wanted
community. You cannot solve
a problem without talking to
the boots-on-the-ground and
this ten-year plan is filled
with goals and action items
from farm workers, buyers
for grocery stores, food bank
volunteers, nutritionists,
fishermen, natural resource
specialists and hundreds of
others working each day with
their hands and hearts to
improve our food system.
to make our food
system more resilient,
we needed to take
a much broader
This plan is a roadmap to approach."
-destroy our crops and
disrupt our supply chains. Stagnant wages and
rising food costs make putting groceries in the
refrigerator more difficult each year. Battles over
natural resources, invasive species, land and
water rights, and threats of economic recession
challenge the very foundation of the food system
upon which we rely.
If we are to survive and thrive during these
challenging times, we need a County government
Page 1
a future where Whatcom
County's commitment
extends from seed to table. A
future where our food system
is prosperous, equitable, resilient and once again,
a core part of the Whatcom County experience.
Thank you for participating in making that future
a reality. As every farmer knows, the best way to
ensure a better tomorrow is to plant a good seed
today.
½~
-Riley Sweeney; Food System Committee Chair
First and Foremost we must acknowledge
that what settlers call Whatcom County is
the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish
Peoples, who have lived in the Salish Sea Basin,
throughout the San Juan Islands and the North
Cascade Watershed, from time immemorial. We,
the Whatcom County Food System Committee,
as well as all residents in Whatcom County,
extend our deepest respect and gratitude for
our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation
and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and
protection of our shared lands and waterways.
Over five years ago, the Whatcom Food Network
and other food system leaders envisioned the
development of a Food System Plan to provide
guidance and strategy to the region's food
system. This document is the fruition of that
vision.
Who is New Venture Advisors LLC (NVA)?
NVA was hired to support the food system
planning process. NVA is a strategy consulting
firm specializing in food system planning and food
enterprise development. The team is committed
to environmental sustainability, social impact,
equity, diversity, and inclusion as we help our
clients realize their vision for a more just and
sustainable food system.
Over the last decade NVA has helped more
than 150 clients develop food systems through
strategic investments and creative planning and
programming.
Special thanks to the people and organizations who made this plan possible:
• Members of the Whatcom County Food
System Committee past and present:
Adrienne Renz, Amber Noskoff, Andy Enfield,
Jon Maberry, Kendall Whitney, Krista Rome,
Mardi Solomon, Margaret Gerard, Maureen
Darras, Nikki Olsen, Noelle Beecroft, Paul
Burrill, Rhys-Thorvald Hansen, Riley Starks,
Riley Sweeney, Rob Dhaliwal, Sean Hopps,
Trevor Gearhart, and Ali Jensen, staff.
• The Whatcom Food Network staff and
Steering Committee.
• Whatcom Community Foundation.
• Whatcom County Health and Community
Services.
• Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu.
• Whatcom County Council Members: Barry
Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey,
Kathy Kershner, Kaylee Galloway, Todd
Donovan, and Tyler Byrd.
• Eileen Horn and Caroline Myran with New
Venture Advisors.
• The hundreds of community members who
participated in the surveys, community events,
and public comments.
Page 2
Foreword ... 1
Acknowledgments ... 2
Who is the Whatcom County Food
System Committee? .. .4
What is the food system? ... 5
What is a food system plan? ... 6
Why do we need a
food system plan? ... 7
Geography of Whatcom ... 8
How was this plan created? ... 9
Community Engagement...10
How to read this plan ... 13
Page 3
Goal 1: Cultivate equity and justice
in our food system ... 14
• Goal 1: Objectives & Actions ... 16
Goal 2: Protect and regenerate our
soil, water, and land ... 18
• Goal 2: Objectives & Actions ... 20
Goal 3: Build a resilient and vibrant
local food economy ... 25
• Goal 3: Objectives & Actions ... 27
Goal 4: Ensure access to healthy
food for all. .. 30
• Goal 4: Objectives & Actions ... 32
Goal 5: Mitigate emissions from food
system activities and adapt the food
system to a changing climate ... 35
• Goal 5: Objectives & Actions ... 38
How will this plan
be implemented? ... 42
Endnotes .. .44
Community members in Whatcom County began
discussing our county's food system as early
as 2007, when the Washington State University
Extension Office in Whatcom County developed
the first community food assessment (CFA).
Subsequent CFAs, conducted by the Whatcom
Food Network (WFN), identified the desire for a
countywide food system plan. In 2018, the WFN
created a food system planning task force, which
determined a Whatcom County Council advisory
committee would be an appropriate channel
for food system planning. The task force, with
support from the Public Health Advisory Board,
drafted an ordinance to create the food system
committee (FSC).
The FSC ordinance called for the committee
to draft, implement, provide oversight for, and
regularly update a countywide food system
plan to strengthen our local and regional food
system. The FSC is made up of nine positions,
representing different sectors in the food system.
The committee held their first meeting in
February 2019. Their first task was updating
the CFA. Committee members interviewed 58
subject matter experts to develop the Whatcom
Community Food Assessment 2021 Update
Report. View the most recent CFA from 2021 at this link.
This assessment laid the groundwork for this
county food system plan.
In early 2022, the county council allocated
funds to the hiring of a consultant, New Venture
Advisors (NVA), to assist the FSC in the
development of a food system plan.
Membership
Many people have been involved in
the FSC over the years. The current
membership and the sectors represented
are:
• Local sales/farming
• Food access
• Nutrition/public health
• Natural resources
• Whatcom Food Network
• Labor issues
• Processing/distribution
• Fishing industry
• Export sales farming
The FSC hosts a website with meeting
agendas, minutes, and relevant documents
at www.whatcomcounty.us/2992/Food-
System-Committee.
Page 4
The food system is a web of interconnected inputs
that moves food from seed to sandwich. It
includes waterways and land, fishers,
farmers, distributors, manufacturers and
processors, retailers, and individual
consumers. It also includes the
waste streams that are generated
from all of these steps along the
way, including both food and
packaging waste.
The food system is influenced
by our policies, our culture,
and our values. It intersects
with many other Whatcom
County priorities, including the
importance of advancing equity
in our food system and adapting
our food system to a changing
climate.
Food systems don't have set
boundaries, due to the globalized
interconnectedness of food production
and the influence of state and local policies
on the food system. For this purpose of this plan,
though, we are focused on recommendations
for the local food system of Whatcom County,
Washington.
Page 5
A food system plan is a long-range planning
document that is driven by community input and
strategic goals. It is defined by the American
Planning Association as "a set of interconnected
forward-thinking activities that strengthen a '
community and regional food system through
the creation and implementation of plans and
policies." It includes a baseline assessment of
how we grow, distribute, consume, and dispose
of food and identifies concrete actions to
improve the policies, programs, and investments
that shape how food moves throughout our
community.
The Whatcom County Food
System Plan sets a 70-year vision
for the county's food system.
The main audience for this plan is the local
government of Whatcom County. Therefore, the
objectives and actions in the plan are the areas
where local government can have the most
impact.
Page 6
A food system plan is modeled after other county
strategic plans, like those for land use, economic
development, or recreation. However, unlike a
department of parks and recreation, there is no
county-level "department of food" tasked with
stewarding these efforts. Local governments are
uniquely positioned to lead food system planning
because the food system overlaps with many of
the structural and systemic issues that require
attention in other areas of a community-for
example, land use, water use, transportation,
infrastructure, food access, and equity.
Groups across the country, like the Whatcom
County Food System Committee, are leading
robust community-driven planning efforts to
capture the aspirations and needs of their
residents to formulate a long-range vision for
their food system. Cities and counties across the
country are bringing a community planning lens to
the food system to create focus and intention in its
development and sustainability.
It has never been more urgent for Whatcom
County to strategically plan for its food system.
Growing economic pressures on the traditional
model for farming had already strained the
Page 7
viability of our local food system. These
challenges were compounded by the COVID-19
pandemic and highlighted the vulnerabilities in our
food supply chain and inequitable social systems.
Severe weather events driven by climate change
like flooding, drought, and fires are impacting our
ability to grow and harvest food. Farmworkers,
farmers, and fishers are subjected to more
unhealthy air and higher working temperatures.
People in our community, including food system
workers, are struggling to afford food. Food banks
in Whatcom County saw a 17 percent increase
in utilization in 2022. The number of farms in
operation is remaining steady; however their
long-term economic viability remains in question.
Despite efforts to emphasize local consumption,
most of the food we produce is sold outside of
Whatcom County. We produce more waste in
our food system than ever before. Organic waste
is a significant contributor of greenhouse gas
emissions in our county.
COVID-19 and increased occurrences of
disruptive climate events have underlined the dire
need to create a more resilient, equitable, and just
food system in our county. While a food system
plan can't eradicate hunger overnight, it provides
strategic steps to reach food system goals for our
county.
Photos from the November 2021 floods in Whatcom County.
Whatcom County is on the land of the
Lhaq'temish (Lummi), Nuxwsa'7aq (Nooksack),
Coast Salish, Nfe?kepmx Tmfxw (Nlaka'pamux),
Nuwhaha, Sauk Suiattle, Semiahmoo, and
Stillaguamish tribes and people past and presenti.
Whatcom County borders Canada to the north,
Skagit County to the south, Okanogan County
to the east, and the Salish Sea to the west.
Whatcom County is in the Nooksack River
Watershed, which includes the Nooksack River
Sumas River, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Bi~ch
Bay, Semiahmoo Bay, Lummi Bay, Samish Bay,
and Bellingham Bay. Other important geographic
features include Mt Baker, 130 miles of coastlines,
and over 100,000 acres of active farmlandii_
Aerial photo of Whatcom County, WA.
Whatcom County has 130 miles
of coastlines and over 100,000
acres of active farmland.
Whatcom County has seven incorporated
cities (Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale,
Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas) and several
unincorporated communities with substantial
populations, such as Columbia Valley, Point
Roberts, Birch Bay, Acme, Van Zandt, South
Fork Valley, Deming, Maple Falls, Kendall, and
Nugents Corner.
Page 8
The FSC began the development of the food
system plan in 2019. The first step was to update
the Community Food Assessment (CFA), which
identified key challenges and opportunities across
all food system sectors-land, water, labor,
farming, fishing, processing and distribution,
consumption, and waste. The CFA laid a strong
foundation for the creation of a countywide food
system plan.
NVA, consultants specializing in food system
planning and sustainable food business
development, were hired to assist the committee
in early 2022.
The overarching goals of the plan were developed
utilizing the key findings of the 2021 CFA. These
goals were drafted and then shared with the
community through a public survey to generate
input on the goals. Responses were used to
create a list of actions that would be necessary
to achieve those goals. The survey, open from
April through June of 2022 and available in
multiple languages, received 227 responses from
community members.
Survey Respondents by Zipcode
Number of Respondents
7
9 10
5
Map of food system survey respondents by ZIP Code.
Page 9
64
17
2
7
Po'h!.:'rl::!d by Biog
i?/ Microsofl, fornTom
Address: 2717 Alderwood Ave, Belling-
ham, WA, 98225
Date of Event: 7/24/2022
Notes: Around 50 participants worked
in groups to develop thoughts and
comments on the Food System Plan
goals.
Virtual Events (not mappable)
6/2/22: Marine Resources Committee Conversation
6/13/22: Bellingham Parks Department Conversa-
tion
6/23/22: Virtual WFN* Equity Event
6/24/22: Conservation Easement Program Over-
sight Committee Conversation
7 /20/22: Virtual WFN*, Goals #2 & #5, Event
7 /27 /22: Gleaner's Pantry Conversation
Restaurant Worker Conversation
Address: 1650 Birchwood Ave, Belling-
ham, WA, 98225
Date of Event: 7/15/2022
Notes:: Talked with community mem-
bers, producers and consumers, about
the Food System Plan
Address: 104 E Maple St, Bellingham,
WA, 98225
Date of Event: 8/1/2022
Notes:: Facilitated a conversation
with farmers about current issues
impacted them.
Address: 1215 Cornwall Ave Suite 101,
Bellingham, WA 98225
Date of Event: 7/12/2022
Notes: Organized and facilitated a
discussion with restaurant workers
and owners about the food system,
Birchwood International Market
Address: Granary Ave & W Laurel St,
Bellingham, WA, 98225
WFN* Shuksan Middle School Event Date of Event: 7/30/2022 -Whatcom Pride
0 Farmers Conversation
Notes:: Attended and tabled at Pride
10 discuss food system issues with
LGBT+ community members.
Community engagement events held throughout the county in the summer of 2022.
From May through August of 2022, the FSC and
partners, such as the Whatcom Food Network,
hosted more than 1 O community events to
discuss the draft goals and to receive additional
input on potential actions. These community
events included small group discussions with
farmers and restaurant workers, community-wide
conversations about equity and justice in the food
system, and focused outreach in neighborhoods,
at farmers markets, and at community events.
Hundreds of residents participated in these
discussions and shared critical insights about
their lived experiences in the food system and
their ideas for how the county could improve.
All community input was compiled and analyzed
for themes to identify key challenges and
opportunities in the Whatcom County food system.
Page 10
Top and right, Shuksan Middle School community
gathering on July 24, 2022.
Additionally, specific objectives and actions
recommended in the CFA and other related
county plans were included. These data sets
were synthesized to create objectives for each
food plan goal, along with specific actions
to help meet each objective. This process
yielded a large set of objectives and actions
for the FSC to consider.
Throughout the fall and winter of 2022, FSC
members divided into subcommittees, one
for each goal area. They met multiple times
to refine the objectives and actions from the
community feedback. To validate potential
draft objectives and actions, the committee
members presented them to subject matter
experts in the county and county staff who
would be tasked with carrying out the actions.
There were 11 total subcommittee meetings in
the fall of 2022.
Page 11
The first draft of the plan that resulted was
approved by the committee on December 15,
2022.
The plan was further refined in January and
February of 2023 through a community feedback
form and additional community engagement
including an open house event to share the draft
plan. Input from these final events was utilized
to refine the first draft and to create the final
Whatcom County Food System Plan that follows.
Top and left, Ferndale Pioneer Pavilion community gathering on
Feb. 13, 2023.
Page 12
The Whatcom County Food System Plan was
designed to enhance community collaboration
and to guide and foster a vibrant local food
system in Whatcom County. The timeline for the
plan is 10 years, recognizing that some actions
may be able to be implemented immediately,
while others will take additional development.
The actions are focused on Whatcom County
government and represent the areas of the food
system where local government policies can have
the greatest impact. It will take the efforts of the
elected officials and staff in Whatcom County,
along with many community partners to see the
plan through.
The plan is organized from broad goals to
specific actions:
• Goals state the desired outcomes and future
vision for Whatcom County's food system.
• Objectives are more specific, measurable
strategies to guide local work to reach each goal.
Each goal has multiple objectives that support it.
• Actions are the specific policies, programs,
and initiatives to meet the objectives.
Actions are organized into five key categories
a
iii
•••
• 0
• c'
Policy Solutions:.
These are policies (ordinances, resolutions, taxes, economic development incentive,
etc.) that the County could enact to strengthen the food system.
Community Collaborations:
These are the potential innovative partnerships between community food system
partners to advocate for the local food system.
County Leadership:
These are opportunities for Whatcom County to lead by example within their own
operations and internal policies.
Infrastructure:
These are investments in the physical assets of the local food system in the region,
which includes the facilities and transportation networks needed to move food from farm
to fork.
Education and Programming:
These are the community education programs about the food system that build
awareness and knowledge amongst residents. Food.system programs provide a variety
of services to County residents -from cooking classes to composting initiatives.
Page 13
In the United States and the Whatcom County
food system, your race, ethnicity, gender, income,
and zip code can dictate your access to healthy
food, your ability to own farm land, and your
access to capital to start your own food business.
The COVID-19 pandemic put additional stress
on systems that we already knew were broken
(including food systems), further exposing and
increasing health disparities and heightening
awareness of racial inequities and injustices for
many in our community.iii
Some of the current inequities in the
Whatcom County food system include:
• In Whatcom County, access to healthy foods
varies based on geography, income, and race or
ethnicity. Health outcomes are poorest among
youth who are English language learners and
for youth and adults who are low-income and/or
people of color.iv
• Approximately 75% of farmworkers in the
United States are Latinx migrants. Many of these
farm workers receive low wages, have few labor
protections, and face threats to their health from
pesticide use, physically demanding conditions,
and an ever-warming climate.v
• Approximately 9% of Whatcom County
residents identify as Hispanic/Latinx, yet in 2020,
25% of Whatcom County COVI D-19 cases were
among Hispanic/Latinx residents.vi
• In 2012, 44% of farmworkers in Washington
State were undocumented.vii
• Approximately 58.2% of WIC-eligible
Whatcom County residents are not enrolled in
WIC (Wahsington State Department of Health).
• Of the 2,982 agricultural producers in
Whatcom County, 44% are female.ix
Farmworkers are more likely to receive low wages, have few
labor protections, and face threats to their health.
• In Whatcom County, 862 farmers (29%) are
new and beginning farmers who have operated a
farm or ranch for 10 years or less.x
• In Whatcom County, 274 farmers (9%) are
veterans. xi
• In a 2019 survey of restaurant workers, only
. 31% of employers offered medical insurance for
employees.xii
• In Washington State, 54% of farmworkers
reported they have had more difficulty paying for
food since the COVID-19 crisis began.xiii
• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people
of color) residents are disproportionately likely to
face food insecurity. For example, in Whatcom
County, 4.5% of SNAP users are American
Indian/Alaska Native, while only 2% of the total
population is American Indian/Alaskan Native,
and 7% of SNAP users are two or more races,
while only 3.5% of total residents are two or more
races.xiv
Page 14
Throughout the community engagement
process that informed this plan, it became
clear that embedding equity in our food
system plans was necessary to create the
outcomes the community desired.
Participants spoke of the need for fair wages for
food system workers, improved access to land
for socially disadvantaged populations, support
for immigrants, ensuring health for all workers,
and improving the accessibility of the county's
communications around food systems initiatives.
Addressing systemic barriers to full participation
in our food systems will create the greatest
opportunity to address the critical areas
highlighted from public engagement. See Food
System Committee webpage for full community survey and
event results.
Through the Whatcom County Food System
Plan, we have an opportunity to collaborate with
organizations led by and for Bl POC residents to
address these inequities.
Key themes from community engagement sessions:
Elevate Indigenous Perspective
7
Data on Equity
11
Tribal Relationships
13
Community Power
16
Ensure Worker Health
21
Equity Training/Practices
23
Page 15
Farming Equity
25
Wage & Benefit Equity
41
Transparency-Food System Info
26
Land Access
25
Policy
.:!!!!!!::.
I 11
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure .,.~
"
Education and
Programming • (=
mox:d 1: t)JfJ_i~etrivJ1s ~ ~etrioms ~atre~orr~
1.1 Increase
health, wealth,
and leadership
with BIPOC
and under-
represented
communities
across our food
system
1.2 Strengthen
support for
immigrants
in Whatcom
County
1.1.1 Remove barriers to engagement in local food programs (i.e., CSAs, farmers
markets, Market Match, community gardening, etc.), create funding, partnership,
and collaboration opportunities for organizations led by and for BIPOC and other
socially disadvantaged communities
1.1.2 Improve access to financial tools for food systems development (i.e.,
access to capital, low interest loans, microloans, grant programs, and other
funding opportunities), create funding, partnership, and collaboration opportunities
for organizations led by and for BIPOC and other socially disadvantaged
communities
1.1.3 Build relationships and opportunities for collaboration with cultural liaisons
to support existing food sovereignty projects already underway
1.1.4 Engage with and reflect the diversity of our communities-across class,
race and ethnicity, genders, belief systems, etc.-in all Whatcom County planning
and communications about food systems
1.2.1 Support food policy-related goals in the Child and Family Action Plan and
the Health Protection for Immigrant Families Task Force Report.
1. 2. 2 Strengthen the capacity of local employers, businesses, and service
agencies to respond to immigration-related issues
1.2.3 Improve service systems to better meet the needs of families, including
immigrant families
1.2.4 Require mandatory training for county staff and contractors (particularly
criminal justice and health and human services) related to anti-discrimination/anti-
bias approaches, culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS), and
trauma-informed services
1.2.5 Ensure all materials developed by the county to support food system
• 0
........
111
........
111
........
Ill
planning and implementation are offered in multiple languages and that county-•
sponsored food system events offer interpretation services on-site 0
Page 16
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
Policy
~
I I I
1.3 Empower
food system
workers to lead
healthy and safe
lives
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~
1.3.1 Fund the engagement of food system workers to improve workplace health
and safety standards that meet the principles of the Whatcom Food System Plan
1.3.2 Adopt a fair scheduling ordinance, designed by essential farm, food, and
hospitality workers, in consultation with employers, to make schedules and breaks
more consistent with routines that sustain healthy and safe lives for workers
1.3.3 Advocate that the Washington State Insurance Commissioner and
Healthcare Authority provide food system workers with better and affordable
physical and mental health insurance options
1.3.4 Coordinate with local tipped workers to advocate for changes in state laws
around tip sharing so that back-of-house kitchen staff benefit and tip sharing is
more equitable across the board
1.3.5 Support a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant for community
space that is open during non-traditional hours for food system shift workers
1.3.6 Fund and support the Food System Committee in the creation and
maintenance of a food system information dashboard, building on the Washington
State Health Disparities map, co-created with input from essential food systems
workers across sectors that reflect the diversity of our communities
Page 17
Education and
Programming • ,=:
•••
~ ••• 111
.:\!!!!!!!::. "ti)~ Ill
.:\!!!!!!!::. ••• 111 ,.~ ,.~
• ,=:
•••
• 0
Our soil, water, and land in Whatcom County
provide the very foundation of our food system.
The food production practices we choose can
either extract from or regenerate this natural
resource base. Preserving ecosystems for fish
and wildlife habitat is also critical to the region's
food supply. All of these natural resources are
being threatened by warming temperatures,
variable precipitation, and an increase in extreme
weather events due to climate change. See goal 5
for additional information.
Well-stewarded farm and forestry land provides
environmental benefits in addition to food and
fiber. These benefits include aquifer recharge,
storm water retention, and wildlife habitat. They
also provide aesthetic and recreational values.
In Whatcom County, there are 1,712 farms
covering 102,523 acres of land. Of these 1,712
farms:
• 69 farms practiced alley cropping,
silvopasture, forest farming, or had riparian forest
buffers and windbreaks.
• Two percent of farms in Whatcom County are
USDA certified organic.xv
Valuable farmland and rangeland in Whatcom
County is under development pressure. If current
trends continue, by 2040, 6,300 farmland/
rangeland acres in Whatcom County will be
converted to urban and residential land uses. xvi
A reliable supply of water is critical to agricultural
production, and maintaining water quality
supports fishing and shellfish production in the
region.
• Shellfish harvest areas in Portage Bay remain
closed to fall harvest because of high fecal
coliform in growing waters. Drayton Harbor is at
risk of a shellfish growing water downgrade.xvii
• Some drinking water wells have higher than
the maximum level of nitrate.xviii
• Lake Whatcom remains vulnerable to the
harmful effects of algal blooms due to excessive
levels of phosphorus.xix
• The Nooksack River streamflow is strongly
seasonal. An oversupply of water occurs in the
winter and early spring and can often result in
flooding. Droughts in the summer result in lower
streamflows during the months that require the
most irrigation water use for crop production.xx
Page 18
Fish and wildlife are also critical components of
the region's food supply. However, development
and climate change threaten these populations.
• Fish passage barriers, inadequate riparian
areas, and inadequate instream habitat features
impair the productivity of valued salmon species
and impair the ecosystem processes that provide
benefits for adjacent landowners as well as other
fish and wildlife species.xxi
• The lack of undeveloped and connected
patches of native vegetation for movement and
crossings in lowland Whatcom County limit
movement both for local and migrating wildlife.xxii
Incentives-Water Quality & Soil E ...
11
Zoning for Ag
15
Incentives-Conserving Land
17
Incentives-Transition Practices
22
Page 19
Habitat Restoration
22
Participants spoke of the need to support and
grow existing natural resource programs, to
support farmers transitioning to regenerative
practices, to protect water-both quantity and
quality-and restore wildlife habitat.
See Food System Committee webpage for full
community survey and event results.
Land Conservation
36
Water & Soil Health
33
End Harmful Practices
26
Policy
~
Ill
2.1 Protect
Agricultural
land in
Whatcom
County and
increase the
acreage used
for local and
regenerative
food
production
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~
2.1.1 Establish a baseline inventory of the number of
acres of agricultural land in Whatcom County currently
used for local food production. Use the baseline inven-
tory to set an achievable target of acres for local food
production and organic food production for the county
to strive for. Partner with the Ag Advisory Committee to
achieve this action.
2.1.2 Increase the agricultural acreages placed under
conservation easements through the current Whatcom
County Conservation Easement Program; ensure ade-
quate county staff support to facilitate additional conser-
vation easement program outreach and signups and to
leverage state and federal grants; actively seek funds for
agricultural acreage utilized for local food production
2.1.3 Increase funding to the Conservation Futures Fund;
direct additional revenues to increase the number of con-
servation easements with a focus on acquiring land that
specifically produces food for local consumption
2.1.4 When the county updates the 1995 Open Space
Plan, revise the public benefit rating system for the
Open Space: Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land
sub-classification to ensure more land management for
agriculture
2.1.5 Support land trusts and cooperative projects to de-
velop permanently affordable housing communities that
provide farmland access for the residents for commer-
cial and non-commercial local food production. Partner
with the Ag program staff in Planning and Development
Services to achieve this.
2.1.6 Work with farmers and land trusts to determine
acreage goals and farmland preservation strategies.
2.1. 7 Fund cross-sector collaboration to employ a food
system lens for preservation and conservation strategies
that results in locally-owned farms, forests, and working
lands that benefit the public.
Page 20
Education and
Programming • ,Ii:
• 0 •••
..:!!!!!!!!!:::
111
• 0
• 0 •••
Policy
.::!!!!!!!!!:::
Collaboration County
Leadership •
Infrastructure
111
2.2 Improve the
health of our coun-
ty's soils
••• o .,.~
2.2.1 Increase funding support for Washington State
University (WSU) Extension and the Whatcom Con-
servation District to increase technical assistance and
educational opportunities for growers and future growers
to learn soil management best practices and transition
from conventional to organic production methods
( See also related objective 5. 3):
• 5.3.1 Promote adoption of farm management prac-
tices that maximize soil carbon storage and in-
crease water and nutrient availability
• 5. 3. 2 Coordinate state and federal agricultural
adaptation resources (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act
funds) to support farmers in making informed busi-
ness decisions in a changing climate
• 5. 3. 3 Increase farm resilience to sea level rise,
shoreline erosion, and river flooding by protecting
and restoring riparian estuary habitat, restoring wet-
lands, and increasing natural water storage
• 5. 3. 4 Encourage increases in research and devel-
opment of drought-and heat-resistant agricultural
crops and flexible infrastructure to support diversi-
fied crops
• 5. 3. 5 Reduce the risk of devastating impacts of
extreme weather and natural disasters by encour-
aging food producers to diversify their products
Page 21
Education and
Programming • ,=:
Policy
~
Ill
2.3 Conserve
water and sup-
port water effi-
ciency projects
and policies
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~
2.3.1 Work with the health department and state offi-
cials to explore opportunities for utilizing greywater for
growing food; existing greywater rules need systems
and implementation support to align with the needs of
small-scale agriculture
2.3.2 Encourage municipalities within the county to
Education and
Programming • ,:::
set water rate policies that promote conservation and .::!!!!!I!:.
prioritize food production; this could include offering an 111
"irrigation-only" reduced rate to gardeners and urban
farmers using municipal water to irrigate their crops.
2.3.3 Collaborate to implement sustainable funding e
mechanisms that support water efficiency (e.g., provid-11-
ing technical assistance to producers, offering rebates •., •• .ii
for water efficient irrigation equipment) ••.
2.3.4 Continue the Whatcom Water Alliance rebates for
WaterSense irrigation controllers for county residents e
and encourage the City of Bellingham to continue their ,,-
rebate program for WaterSense irrigation controllers
2.3.5 Support collaborative efforts to address water
supply and salmon recovery ••·•
2.3.6 Support the creation of a local water exchange
system that coordinates the lease and sale of water e
rights as they are freed up; ensuring equal access and 11-
affordable rates for diverse scales of locally-owned op-
erations and producers.
Page 22
Policy
~
I I I
2.4 Ensure water
quality through
habitat restoration
and improved
agricultural
practices
Collaboration ~-· County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure "'~
2.4.1 Increase the number of acres enrolled in the Con-
servation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to
improve both water quality and fish habitat; encourage
the Whatcom Conservation District to utilize available
state and federal funds to supplement CREP
2.4.2 Explore the development of a "working buffers"
program: working buffers are an approach to riparian
conservation that combines stream restoration with
low-impact food production in a way that incentivizes
sustainable stewardship of the buffer area by the land-
owner
2.4.3 Explore the development of a flexible and reason-
able "working buffers" program: working buffers are an
approach to riparian conservation that combines stream
restoration with low-impact food production in a way that
incentivizes sustainable stewardship of the buffer area by
the landowner
2.4.4 Ensure public landscape maintenance by the coun-
ty adheres to best management practices-including in-
tegrated pest management, no-spray road maintenance,
and the use of native plants-and does not negatively
affect food production and water sources. Evaluate and
update as best management practices change.
Page 23
Education and
Programming • 1!::i
Policy
.:!!!!!!::.
I I I
2.5 Protect and
restore natural
ecosystems and
wildlife corri-
dors that com-
munity mem-
bers rely on for
food provision
Collaboration .• ~
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~
2.5.1 Increase the number of acres enrolled in the
CREP to engage more agricultural producers and
landowners to plant native trees to enhance wildlife
corridors and protect fish-bearing streams and rivers
2.5.2 Secure additional funds and increase capacity
in the Whatcom Conservation District's Fish Passage
program to convert culverts on county land that cur-
rently prevent fish passage
2.5.3 Secure additional funds and increase staff ca-
Education and
Programming • ,=
pacity in the Whatcom Conservation District to support 9 programs to improve riparian buffer installations on
1
,-
properties that aren't eligible for CREP, such as the
Salmon Recovery program
2.5.4 Prioritize conservation easement purchases •
that maintain habitat corridor connectivity to support g
populations of wildlife for hunting
2.5.5 Enforce the Open Space public access pro-•
gram to enable foraging, hunting, etc. on land en-.;
rolled in this program w
Page 24
The benefits of building a strong local food
economy are clear: Farms and local food
businesses boost employment and income in
the community; buy from other local businesses,
which increases economic activity; and build the
local tax base that supports infrastructure and
services. Although Whatcom County boasts some
important local food system assets, significant
opportunity exists to grow this sector of the
economy to meet growing consumer demand for
local and regional products. For this economic
growth to support a more equitable food system,
it is critical to center the rights of workers and
value their contributions to the food system.
In Whatcom County, farming and fishing are
significant contributors to the local economy:
• The market value of all agricultural products
sold in 2017 was over $372 million.xxiii
• In 2017, 210 berry farms in Whatcom County
accounted for $112 million in sales (30% of the
county total), and 103 dairy facilities generated
$180 million in sales (48% of the county total).xxiv
• 41% of farms in the county are small farms
with fewer than nine acres in production. xxv
• 15% of farms sell directly to consumers-
through farmers• markets, community supported
agriculture (CSAs), or farm stands.xxvi
• The county has 51 businesses that are
registered as "fishing" businesses and 12
registered as "shellfish" businesses_xxvii
Page 25
In 2017, 210 berry farms in Whatcom County accounted for
$112 million in sales (30% of the county total).
In Whatcom County, there are many businesses
adding value to raw agricultural and seafood
products, processing them both for export
and for local sale, including 62 licensed food
processing businesses and 84 commissary
kitchens. However, kitchen access and space
can be limited, and some industries lack the
infrastructure to meet demand of both consumers
and producers.
Farmers raising animals for meat and poultry
struggle to find butchers. The main USDA-
certified meat processing facility has a
waiUist longer than three years_xxviii Those in
the seafood industry are met with regulatory and
processing space barriers to scaling operations.
There are 560 businesses in the food services
and accommodations sector, which includes
full-service restaurants; limited-service eating
places; special food services, such as food
service contractors, caterers, and mobile food
services; and drinking places.xxix
All of these food system sectors -from
farming to food service -employ thousands
of Whatcom County residents.
There are 7,544 farm laborers working on
Whatcom County farms, with a total payroll of
$76,345,000.xxx The H-2A temporary agricultural
workers program allows Whatcom County farmers
to hire non-U.S. labor. In 2020, there were 75
certified H-2A workers in the county (down from a
peak of 496 in 2015).xxxi
These workers often make low wages, barely
above the state's minimum wage. Meat,
poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, along with
fast food cooks are among the lowest paid food
system workers in the region.xxxii
There is an increasing demand for locally
produced food in Whatcom County. Dockside
Market, which offers direct seafood sales twice a
month, has grown rapidly since it was launched
in 2020. The biggest farmers market in Whatcom
County is the Bellingham Farmers Market, which
has seen total sales double in the past decade,
including a 16% increase from the 2021 to 2022
market seasons. xxxiii
Throughout the community engagement
process that informed this plan, there was
much discussion of building a robust local
food system for residents in the region.
Participants spoke to the need to increase
the supply of locally grown food by supporting
farmers and food entrepreneurs with food system
infrastructure for processing. Participants
also spoke to the need to remove barriers that
keep locally grown food inaccessible for some
residents by utilizing the marketing tools and
buying power of local governments to build
demand. There is a need to build a skilled labor
force for agriculture and food processing and
to support the next generation of farmers. And
in all of these sectors, residents of Whatcom
County were interested in supporting local and
cooperative ownership of these food system
businesses.
Through the Whatcom County Food System
Plan, we have an opportunity to collaborate with
community partners, small businesses, and
cooperatives to build a vibrant and resilient local
food system.
Key themes from community engagement sessions:
Private Funds for Local Farms
6
Collective Bargaining/Unions
15
Cooperatives-Workers
16
Meat & Fish Processing
16
Training for Food System Workers
17
Commercial/Commissary Kitche ...
20
Financing for Food Businesses
20
Cooperatives-Aggregation
20
Programs that Support New/Sm ...
33
New Markets for Local Producers
32
Promoting Locally-produced Fo ...
30
Benefits for Food System Workers
29
Page 26
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Policy
~
111
3.1 Increase the
supply of local,
sustainable food
produced in
Whatcom County
Collaboration ~-· County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~ Education and
Programming • ,:::
3.1.1 Secure additional funds to support partner
organizations that provide small grants and low-inter-
est loans to producers and processors who distribute Ill:$•
products locally and who may not be eligible for tradi-
tional sources of financing
3.1.2 Create and expand the network of shared-use kitch-
ens and processing facilities for food businesses, food , 1 ~ --.,.11 0 0 .,,. producers, and retailers
3.1.3 Support the development of an affordable, local,
commercially licensed smoker/processor for seafood, 1 1 ~ --.,.11
which will reduce carbon emissions from long-distance o o .,,,
export
3.1.4 Collaborate with tribes to explore opportunities to
increase our fisheries resource (i.e., salmon run size,
and wild and enhanced salmon) in Whatcom County
3.1.5 Coordinate and support training for meat processing
workforce development, including for custom slaughter
butchers and Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA) meat cutters, to increase the number of meat
processors in the county.
3.1.6 Analyze and revise county permitting and zon-
ing processes related to meat processing to remove
barriers for small-scale butchers and WSDA meat
cutters
3.1. 7 Remove barriers to and support the development of
additional food distribution and processing centers in the
county
3.1.8 Support innovative methods to increase the supply of
local food (i.e., aquaculture, vertical farming, etc.)
Page 27
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0
: "~ ~""' ~ = ct' ' " Ii= " "~ " \ ",,; ~ "" ,,; A : \ ~ " "": < [ '% ~
"111~1 :1: •mill, ~ nes"iljeml •ll'4\~lll,1•'1i ,lmm1I il~mll ae1mmmm11 , ~': , ',, '::,-,,~ ::,
" I di ,-~ ~ *"""'"' " ,,; 8 " k ~ A~ *"' "' s ¼ $ ~f"' ~ «~ ( b '!!~ " < 0 ~ ~ ~ = °' ~ " "' \ ,,,, / ~ cS"' " ' :,:t ~ / \, "'
Policy
.::!!!I!!!:,
Collaboration County
Leadership •
Infrastructure
Education and
Programming
Ill ...
0 Pi
3.2 Remove barriers
to and build
consumer demand for
locally produced
agricultural products
and facilitate markets
for local producers
and food businesses
3.3 Expand
workforce
development and
readiness to
prepare
community
members for
successful food
system
employment
3.2.1 Increase local food procurement for county depart-
ments and county-subsidized facilities and programs (such
as childcare and senior meal programs)
3.2.2 Direct a portion of the Whatcom County Lodging
Tax Advisory Committee (L TAC) funds toward support-
ing events that celebrate and enhance area agriculture,
fishing, and food activities to build demand for locally
grown and sourced foods; potential events could include
Seafeast, Whatcom County Farm Tour, Eat Local Month
Restaurant Week, as well as smaller farmers markets
(e.g., Ferndale, Lynden, etc.)
3.2.3 Encourage cities within the county to waive all ap-
plicable fees for farmers and seafood markets and mobile
markets, especially those in low-income areas
3.2.4 Invest in a relationship with the Port of Bellingham
to identify opportunities to collaborate on food system
projects that build demand for locally produced foods
3.3.1 Fund and develop a county network of skilled
workers to host the creation of skill, technical training,
and apprenticeship opportunities within and outside
current institutional education systems in the county
(i.e., Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Com-
munity College)
3.3.2 Support the Workforce Training and Retraining
Advisory Group at Whatcom Community College; en-
courage inclusion/appointment of community organiza-
tions led by/for essential food systems workers
3.3.3 Work with the Washington State Department of
Commerce tribal liaison and collaborate with the Lummi
Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe to expand access
to workforce development opportunities for their tribal
members
Page 28
• ,:::
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0
0, "»'"'<\ ~~ °', ,;;;>[;;"'!''°""' -
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O
X: os
Policy
~
Collaboration County
Leadership •
Infrastructure
Education and
Programming
111 ••• a "~ • ,:
3.4 Support new
and beginning
farmers in acquir-
ing farmland and
support effective
transition of
farmland to the next
generation of
farmers
3.5 Invest in local
and cooperative
ownership of food
system businesses
Page 29
3.4.1 Advocate for the creation of a beginning farmer
tax credit at the state level that would provide sales
tax and use tax exemptions for beginning farmers
3.4.2 Advocate for the creation of a real estate excise
tax exemption at the state level for transfer of ownership
between current landowners and beginning farmers
3.4.3 Provide funding for the conservation easement
program's buy-protect-sell initiative to continue the pro-
gram once federal grant funds are exhausted; the buy-
protect-sell initiative helps make land more affordable
for beginning farmers
3.4.4 Develop a program to connect landowners who are
either enrolled in or eligible for the Open Space: Farm and
Agricultural Conservation Land program with farmers who
are interested in leasing land
3.5.1 Support, collaborate with, and promote community
development organizations that offer succession planning,
employee ownership options (e.g., employee stock own-
ership programs, cooperatives, etc.), and similar business
succession and retirement programs to preserve jobs,
local ownership, and civic engagement
3.5.2 Provide grant writing support and technical assis-
• 0
tance to cooperatively owned food and 9 agriculture businesses applying for state and federal fund-
1
,-
ing
llimal ·11;' llft.11f ;1ia •a•.i~ ·•• lla~Hi-f~~I ltni ~·i, · ····•
" '" "01" ,, ,\,':, '~ :,{:,,t/~,'!" J,:,: }t/,, ,· . ',, ,, ' ',,'! ",",:, :., ' ,", " 0 ' ' ', ' " ,~' ":: ' ' '
Fresh, healthy, local food is abundant in
Whatcom County, but it is inaccessible to
a significant number of our residents. In
particular, food insecurity disproportionately
impacts children and families.
• Prior to the pandemic, about 12% of residents
were considered food insecure, and some
estimate that one in five residents are now food
insecure. xxxiv
• An early indicator of rising food insecurity is
the number of visits to the food banks in Whatcom
County; 2022 has seen the biggest jump in
utilization of food banks, a 17% increase. xxxv
• Over 40% of Whatcom County school children
are eligible for free or reduced lunch, with rates
as high as 66% in some districts and 82% at tribal
schools. xxxvi
• Whatcom County has three census tracts
that are considered food deserts. Over 24,000
residents live in these census tracts, a number
that is sure to increase with the closure of more
grocery stores_xxxvii
• SNAP and WIC are state-managed programs
that offer food access support in the form of
dollars for food purchasing, but users of these
programs have fewer options for local, healthy
food.
o Some areas, such as the Foothills area in
East County, have an inadequate number of
vendors that accept WIC.
o Of our five farmers markets in Whatcom
County, three accept SNAP. xxxviii Users of
programs such as SNAP and WIG have fewer
options for local, healthy food.
o The Market Match program offers SNAP
users double the dollars for produce purchases at
farmers markets that accept SNAP. Unfortunately,
matching dollars from the state are decreasing
from $40 per person per market to $25 per person
per market in 2023, while at the same time the
cost of food is rising. Page 30
· Above: There
are limited
options
for SNAP
recipients
to get local
produce.
Left: Open
house of
Foothills
Foodbank,
July 2021.
J;_"'-"': ~')~:~~,;"'(Ac>~"i",-;:v cfl0 k,,"'I ~ ';,, ~~ >_ Si:"" 'f " ;'\./ 00 :cc s """' !J:."'" "z::,: e< ¼, , ~~ t ! « v:;, t~
-'ilmai rl: lmsmns, a~maa1i Im lsaltil11 /fim,ml lmrt1Jf , , ' , ,,' ,
:,,/~0 ,, : : ,: ;, ~ ,: ' ";:: t: ,, : ," 't,/:' ! t:,' .,~, , ' ,': ' 'C ' , ' ' : : " ! \' ': ' , , 'J, , ' " ' , -, ' -' ' '
Th community
engageme~t that informed this
, ensurmg access healthy food
was a community priority.
Participants spoke of the need to support the
built environment infrastructure for food-grocery
stores, commercial kitchens, and food banks.
They also spoke of the importance of programs
that support community members' access to
food-both formal and informal. There was much
discussion of the need to reduce wasted food
that could otherwise feed people, and the need
to provide education and space for community
members to grow their own food.
See Food System Committee webpage for full
community survey and event results.
The Whatcom County Food System Plan provides
the opportunity for the county to collaborate with
the many organizations working to improve access
to healthy food for all residents.
Key themes from community engagement sessions:
Food Distribution
13
Incentive Programs for Produce
17
Food Access-Local Purchasing
20
Free Community Meals
22
Zoning Laws
22
Food Pantry
13
Gleaning/Redirecting Food Waste
24
Homesteading Education
31
Page 31
Food Access-Community Growing
67
Grocery Access
52
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",mlial II: 1111,mn~ auuess Im ,ffl~a11fl1 lmm1-1-,n 111 -" " /C'
-'"" '": ,,,a " ~ : ,.,~ \! c; ',..,., ; " or , "' " ~ A ;''<, 2 : "? ~ S: ~ > i'"' "" ~ " ~ " ""~ !L"'
Policy
~
111
4.1 Build and
design our
communities
to ensure food
access and
eliminate food
deserts
Collaboration •·1
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.i
4.1.1 Assess the policy barriers (i.e., non-compete clauses)
that may prevent grocery stores from operating in recognized
areas with low access to food
4.1.2 Consider waiving permit fees for grocery stores in US-
DA-designated low-income/low-access census tracts (aka
"food deserts")
4.1.3 Conduct a nonprofit grocery store feasibility study to
see if selling surplus food at low cost to food insecure individ-
uals is a viable model for Whatcom County
4.1.4 Increase transportation access to food; locate exist-
ing programs along transportation routes and reroute public
transits for more equitable access to food access points as
necessary
4.1.5 Collaborate with community groups to mitigate the
impacts of and eliminate the causes of food deserts
4.1.6 Work with the Whatcom County Food Bank Network
to assess the needs at food banks service capacity (i.e.,
infrastructure, staffing/volunteer capacity, and funding
needs); identify opportunities for shared resources
4.1. 7 Explore opportunities for more commercial kitchens
and cold storage available for community groups ad-
dressing food access and food recovery (i.e., food banks,
homeless services, neighborhood groups)
4.1.8 Direct county parks and recreation department to
explore upgrades to the Senior Center kitchen facilities to
increase the capacity of the Senior Meals program; ex-
plore opportunities for shared use of these facilities with
other community groups addressing food access
4.1.9 Identify and implement strategies like a Healthy
Corner Store Initiative program or a Good Food Rebate
program/tax incentive for neighborhood retailers and gro-
cery stores to stock and promote nutritionally dense food
options, including local fruits and vegetables
Page 32
Education and
Programming • ,mi
• 4
1!!!iii ·•·"
C!!!I!!!!!!. :,,~
Policy
_:I\!!!!!!!::.
111
4.2 Create and
promote
opportunities
for people to
grow, prepare,
and share
their own food
,,,,,, ''""'''''''"'"'''"'
4.3 Invest in
programs that
make healthy
food more
affordable
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure ,.~
4.2.1 Identify interest, land, and funding to develop more
community gardens in low-income/low-access neighbor-
hoods; partner with the WSU Extension Master Garden-
ers and the City of Bellingham Greenways program to
identify opportunities to acquire and expand community
seed gardens and community gardens in Bellingham
4.2.2 Increase support for community educational programs
for gardening, seed banking, cooking, and food preserva-
tion; focus efforts on low-income/low-access areas in the
county
4.2.3 Engage tribal partners and cultural liaisons to learn
about barriers to and opportunities for hunting, foraging, and
fishing as strategies to increase access to healthy food
4.3.1 Adequately fund the Whatcom County Food Bank Net-
work to meet the dramatic increase in food insecure individu-
als in the county; ensure that a portion of the increased fund-
ing to food banks is directed to purchase food directly from
Whatcom County producers
4.3.2 Ensure consistent funding for and increase the num-
ber of farmers markets and food outlets that accept nutrition
incentive programs for SNAP recipients
4.3.3 Work with WIC to expand its services to stores and mar-
kets in underserved areas (i.e., the foothills region)
4.3.4 Advocate that the state increase funding in the WIC
Farmers Market Nutrition program and the Senior Farmers
Market Nutrition program
4.3.5 Encourage large communal meal sites (communi-
ty centers, senior centers, workplace cafeterias, etc.) to
adopt healthy food procurement policies that prioritize
access to healthy, locally grown foods
4.3.6 Support universal school meals, including summer
meal programs, that are nutrient-dense and in-line with
the principles in this food system plan.
Page 33
Education and
Programming • ,c
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4.4 Scale up
food recovery
efforts in
Whatcom
County
Collaboration •·1
County
Leadership • ti
Infrastructure ,.~
4.4.1 Coordinate efforts and collaboration between
food recovery organizations, grocery stores, food
banks, and community groups to ensure equitable
and consistent food recovery to alleviate conflict over
reclaiming food
4.4.2 Advocate for incentives for food businesses and
farmers to donate surplus food
4.4.3 Fund and expand the food recovery program
Page 34
Education and
Programming • ,:::
• 0
Our food system is on the
front lines in confronting
the challenges of climate
change. As one of the
largest land uses in our
county, agriculture can be
a critical force for impacting
our climate, for better or for
worse.
Many food system
activities contribute
greenhouse gas emissions
to the atmosphere, which
accelerate the warming of
our climate. These activities
include emissions from
fossil fuels used on-farm
and in the transport of food,
This aerial photo shows Whatcom fields from the November 2021 floods.
emissions from ranching and animal agriculture,
and the greenhouse gas emissions released
when wasted food decomposes. However, there
are also unique opportunities available as part
of our food system to capture carbon and cool a
warming planet.
Also, the food system is increasingly vulnerable
to the impacts of the climate changes that are
already occurring, as the warming temperatures,
variable precipitation, and increase in extreme
weather events impact food production, farmers'
livelihoods, and farmworkers' health.
The objectives and actions in this goal speak
to both the need to reduce the emissions
from food system and farming activities and
the need to prepare our agricultural and
food systems for the impacts of a changing
climate.
Page 35
In particular, Whatcom County is projected to
experience the following climate changes, which
will have a direct impact on the food system:xxxix
A warmer region:
• By the 2050s, average annual temperatures in
Puget Sound are projected to increase by 4.2°F to
5.5 °Funder low-and high-emissions scenarios,
respectively, compared to the 1970-99 average
of 46.5 °F. By 2100, they are projected to be 5.5°F
to 9.1°F warmer under low-and high-emissions
scenarios, respectively.
• By the 2050s, under a low-emissions
scenario, projections indicate at least 1 to 2 days
per year in Whatcom County and at least 2 to 3
days per year in Bellingham specifically when
the heat index is above 90°F, compared to zero
days historically (1971-2000). By 2100, under
a high-emissions scenario, those numbers are
projected to rise to as many as 11 days per year
in Whatcom County and 20 days in Bellingham.
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C " k ):;
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More frequent and intense precipitation:
• Average annual precipitation in Puget Sound
is projected to increase by 4 to 5% by the 2050s
under low-and high-emissions scenarios,
respectively, and another 2% by the 2080s under
both emissions scenarios (relative to the 1970-99
average).
• Under a high-emissions scenario, heavy
precipitation events west of the Cascades are
projected to increase in intensity by 22% by the
2080s-meaning they will have 22% more rain.
Meanwhile, those rain events will become more
frequent, occurring five more days per year by the
2080s. (There is more rain in the winter months
and less in the summer months.x 1
)
More frequent flooding and warmer rivers:
• Mountains draining into Puget Sound are
projected to have 29% less snowpack by the
2040s.
• Flooding in the Nooksack River is expected to
become more intense and frequent.
• Under a moderate emissions scenario,
streamflow in the Nooksack River during a 100-
year flood event (1% probability) is projected to
increase by 27% by the 2080s. Under a moderate
emissions scenario, summer minimum streamflow
in the Nooksack River is projected to decrease
by 27% by the 2080s relative to the 1970-99
average, and summertime stream temperatures
are projected to increase, reaching levels that
exceed the thermal tolerance of most fish
species.
Rising sea levels:
• By 2100, relative sea level rise in the
Bellingham area is projected to be between 1.5
(likely range of 0. 9-2.1 feet) and 1. 9 feet (likely
range of 1.3-2.7 feet) with a 50% likelihood of
exceeding those values under low-and high-
emissions scenarios, respectively.
Higher risk of wildfire:
• By the 2050s, western Washington is
projected to have 12 more days annually with
very high fire danger compared to the 1971-2000
average.
Declining air quality:
• In the future, Whatcom County's air quality
is likely to decline during periods of increased
wildfire activity in the Pacific Northwest, especially
during the summer and early fall.
• Warmer temperatures and increases in ozone
pollution may reduce Whatcom County's air
quality.
East Badger Road and farmland flooded in November 2021.
Page 36
' , •~•I I: tilili1a'tie emissimms ifinmm Imel s1:slem astli~ilies aml ala11
, ~Is Imel 11:slem Im a efflam1im1 mlimaie ,
,,,~ ~ ' ~;\
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Throughout the community
engagement process that informed this
plan, climate change was a top concern
among participants.
Participants spoke of the need to support farmers'
transition to regenerative, sustainable agricultural
practices. Also, participants were concerned
about food and food-related waste at all levels
of the food system. Participants spoke to the
need for reduced packaging of food products and
additional opportunities for composting services.
There was also much discussion of the impacts
on water quality and quantity, which were included
in the objectives and actions in goal 2.
The Whatcom County Food System Plan provides
the opportunity for the county to collaborate
with the many organizations working to improve
access to healthy food for all residents.
Key themes from community engagement sessions:
Sustainable Business Practices
7
Growing for Adaptation
23
Waste-Plastics
23
Page 37
Water-Conservation
30
Waste-Compost
38
Sustainable Farming Practices
34
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I I I
5.1 Reduce GHG
emissions from
farming and
food system
activities
;c, " <',c;
Collaboration •••
County
Leadership • 0
Infrastructure
~~
5.1.1 Support existing programs for energy efficiency
improvements and alternative energy solutions for
agricultural businesses throughout Whatcom County
5.1.2 Create a recognition program for agricultural
businesses that achieve target levels of energy effi-
ciency, conservation, and renewable energy use
5.1.3 Work with livestock producers in the county to
reduce methane emissions from activities related to
ranching and livestock production
5.1.4 Advocate for government and other incentives to
encourage the use of low-emission vehicles on-farm
and throughout food transportation systems
5.1.5 Encourage integrated crop and livestock produc-
tion on farms in a closed loop system to reduce the
transport of manure and the use of synthetic fertilizers
5.1.6 Encourage producers to reduce their use of syn-
thetic fertilizers and pesticides, the manufacture and
transport of which contributes to GHG emissions and
to water and soil pollution
5.1. 7 Encourage the reduction of short-term plastic
use (e.g., plastic mulch) on farms
5.1.8 Encourage producers to participate in the Wash-
ington State Conservation Commission's Sustainable
Fields and Farms program, a grant program that pro-
vides funds and technical assistance to assist farmers
in implementing practices that sequester carbon
Page 38
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5.2 Reduce
waste in our
food system and
specifically
reduce food
waste by
50 percent
5.2.1 Adopt public procurement policies that guide food
waste reduction at county facilities and events; aim for
zero-waste events in all county facilities
5.2.2 Support a statewide plastic stewardship program:
businesses who produce packaged goods would share the
cost of ensuring that those materials are properly recycled
5.2.3 Expand curbside food waste and yard waste pickup and
other options for composting countywide
5.2.4 Support recommendations and goals of the 2021
Whatcom Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan
specific to food waste and recovery:
• Increase support and advertising for the WSU com-
posting education programs through the Master Com-
posting and Recycling program
• Increase recovery of organic materials from multifam-
ily, commercial, and industrial sources
• Periodically assess programs in development and the
funds available and reallocate funds on an as-needed
basis to meet the implementation priorities for waste
reduction, recycling, and composting
• Support and fund commercial education through tar-
geted outreach, commercial waste audits, and tech-
nical assistance specifically related to construction/
demolition and food waste
Page 39
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iii
5.3 Adapt our
agricultural
production
systems and
practices to a
changing climate
(see also goal 2)
5.4 Protect food
system workers
during extreme
weather events
Collaboration ~-· County
Leadership •
Infrastructure ,.~ Education and
Programming
0
5.3.1 Build on the work many farmers are already doing
to promote adoption of farm management practices that
maximize soil carbon storage and increase water and
nutrient availability
5.3.2 Coordinate state and federal agricultural adapta-
tion resources (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act funds) to
support farmers in making informed business decisions
in a changing climate
5.3.3 Increase farm resilience to sea level rise, shoreline
erosion, and river flooding by protecting and restoring
riparian estuary habitat, restoring wetlands, and increas-
ing natural water storage
5.3.4 Encourage increases in research and develop-
ment of drought-and heat-resistant agricultural crops
and flexible infrastructure to support diversified crops
5.3.5 Evaluate the risk of devastating impacts of ex-
treme weather and natural disasters and encourage
food producers to diversify their products when econom-
ically feasible
5.4.1 Support local programming and technical assis-
tance for food and farm workers and owners about the
impacts of heat stress and wildfire smoke.
5.4.2 Support investments in protective equipment and infra-
structure (e.g., respirators, air conditioned and heated break
rooms, shade structures) to protect food chain workers during
extreme weather events
5.4.3 Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of Whatcom
County's essential food system workforce, and provide addi-
tional support and resources during extreme weather events,
as well as the enforcement of local, state, and federal. laws
protecting workers.
Page 40
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5.5 Fortify our
food system
against-and
support recovery
after-climate dis-
ruptions
5.5.1 Promote and support local, state, and federal
emergency management efforts to provide food system
businesses with disaster preparedness and climate resil-
ience resources and tools
5.5.2 Conduct a food supply chain audit to understand where
bottlenecks in food distribution/processing exist and what
local infrastructure is needed to fill in supply chain gaps in
case of climate disruption and natural hazards
5.5.3 Assess existing state and federal programs that help
producers recover from natural disasters to identify gaps and
opportunities for county action
Page 41
.:=!!!!!!!!:::..
iii O
The Food System Plan will serve as a
guiding document for Whatcom County for
the next ten years (2023-33). A strategic
plan is only as strong as its implementation,
and to make systemic change, it requires
action from all sectors involved-including
Whatcom County council members, other
local and tribal governments, institutions,
nonprofit organizations, businesses, and, most
importantly, community members.
The Food System Committee is required by
ordinance to oversee the implementation of this
plan, identify prioritized actions and funding
needs for the plan, ensure ongoing assessment
of the needs of the food system, and update the
plan at least every three years or as necessary.
The Food System Committee will advocate
for the creation of a full-time food system
specialist staff position within Whatcom County
government. Having dedicated staff to oversee
plan implementation is a key success factor
in other priority initiatives of the county. This
staff person will lead the committee and the
community through the following to satisfy the
requirements laid out in the ordinance:
• Determine food system indicators and metrics
and a means of collecting and publishing the
data.
• Develop an implementation plan based on the
prioritization of actions.
• Collaborate with and support organizations
already carrying out some of the actions.
• Work with elected officials and County
government to pass the necessary policy
changes included in the plan.
• Maintain community engagement and
communicate with residents about progress made
and updating the plan.
• Report updates of the plan to the Whatcom
County Council.
There are many ways to stay up to date
and get involved with plan implementation:
• Check the Food System Committee
website for updates.
• Participate in a Food System Committee
meeting.
• Join the Food System Committee or the
Whatcom Food Network.
• Join a mailing list with information about
the implementation of the food system
plan.
• Join or create a workgroup to implement
the actions in this plan.
Canning class.
Page 42
Everything in this plan is important and essential for a sustainable, equitable food system, however,
there are over 100 actions in this plan, a daunting amount. Throughout the 2023 winter engagement
process, Committee members and community members were asked to identify actions that were most
interesting to them and they felt they had capacity to move forward. After a tally, the Cream of the
Crop list was created. These are 12 actions that are being highlighted in this plan. Some will be easier
to execute than others, but as a whole, they showcase the diversity and caliber of content in the food
system plan.
Cream of the Crop: 12 Actions for Prioritization
1.1.2 Improve access to financial tools for
food systems development (i.e., access to
capital, low interest loans, microloans, grant
programs, and other funding opportunities),
create funding, partnership, and collaboration
opportunities for organizations led by and
for BIPOC and other socially disadvantaged
communities
5.4.3 Support local, essential farm workers'
advocacy for improvements in protections from
extreme weather conditions at the state level.
to develop permanently affordable
housing communities that provide farmland
access for the residents for commercial and
non-commercial local food production. Partner
with the Ag program staff in Planning and
Development Services to achieve this.
4.2.2 Increase support for comrnunity
educational programs for gardening, seed
banking, cooking, and food preservation. Focus
efforts on Low-Income/Low-Access areas in the
county.
1.1.1 Remove barriers to engagement in local
food programs (i.e., CSAs, farmers markets,
Market Match, community gardening, etc.),
create funding, partnership, and collaboration
opportunities for organizations led by and
for Bl POC and other socially disadvantaged
communities
Page 43
3.1.6 Analyz.e County permitting and zoning
processes related to meat processing to remove
barriers for small-scale butchers and WSDA meat
cutters.
4.3.1 Adequately fund the Whatcom County
food bank network to meet the dramatic
increase in food insecure individuals in the
county. Ensure that a portion of the increased
funding to food banks are directed to purchase
food directly from Whatcom County producers.
5.1.5 Encourage integrated crop and livestock
production on farms in a closed loop system to
reduce the transport of manure and the use of
synthetic fertilizers.
5.2.3 Expand curbside food waste and yard
waste pickup and other options for composting
countywide.
5.3.1 Promote adoption of farm management
practices that maximize soil carbon storage and
increase water and nutrient availability.
5.5.2 Conduct a food supply chain audit to
understand where bottlenecks in food distribution/
processing exist and what local infrastructure
is needed to fill in supply chain gaps in case of
climate disruption.
3.1.2 Create and expand the network of
sharnd~use kitchens and processing facilities for
food businesses, food producers and retailers.
i Native Land Digital. Native-Land . (2021, October 8). Retrieved March 9, 2,023, from https://native-
land.ca/
ii Port of Bellingham. (2021, October). Whatcom County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
2022-2026. Whatcom-CEDS. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from
https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenterNiew/63493/Whatcom-County-CEDS-2022-2026-
11052021-?bid Id=
iii Whatcom County Health Department, "COVID-19 Community Health Impact Assessment,"
July 2021, https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3760/COVID-19-Community-Health-lmpact-Assessm.
iv Whatcom County Health Department, "2018 Community Health Assessment,"
https:/ /www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/35972/2018-Whatcom-County-Comm unity-Health-
Assessment.
v Federico Castillo et al., "Environmental Health Threats to Latino Migrant Farmworkers,"
Annual Review of Public Health 42, no. 1 (April 2021 ): 257-76.
vi "Covid-19 Data : Whatcom County, WA-Official Website." COVID-19 Data I Whatcom County, WA -
Official Website, 5 July 2020, https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data.
From a graph entitled "Percentage of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, by Race and Ethnicity"
vii Whatcom County Public Health Advisory Board, "Health Protection for Immigrant Families in Whatcom
County," prepared by Crossroads Consulting, September 2019,
https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/72817 /Health-Protection-for-Immigrant-Families-
Evaluation-Report Final-92019.
viii USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture, Whatcom County,
https://www. nass. usd a. g ov/Publi cations/ Ag C ensu s/2017/F ull_Report/Vol u me_ 1,_ Chapter_ 2 _County_ Level/Washi n gton/s15 3 _2 _ 0 04 5 _ o 045. pdf
IX Ibid.
X Ibid.
xi Ibid.
xii Rosie Bradbury, "31 % of Restaurants Offer Health Insurance to Workers, Survey Finds," July 31, 2019,
Restaurant Dive, www. res tau rantdive. com/news/survey-31-of-restaurants-offer-health-insurance-to-
workers/559857 /.
xiii California Institute for Rural Studies, "Washington COVID-19 Farmworker Study," accessed February
21, 2023, https://cirsinc.org/washington/.
xiv United States Census Bureau, "S2201 Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP)," accessed February 21, 2023,
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S2201 %3A %20FOOD%20ST AMPS%2FSUPPLEMENT AL %20N
UTRITION%20ASSISTANCE%20PROGRAM%20%28SNAP%29&g=0S00000US53073&tid=ACSSTSY2
020.S2201.
xv USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture, "County Profile for Whatcom
County, Washington," accessed February 21, 2023,
https://www. nass. usda. gov/Publications/ AgCensus/2017 /Online Resources/County Profi !es/Wash inqton/
cp53073. pdf.
xvi American Farmland Trust, "Farms Under Threat 2040," accessed February 21, 2023,
http://development2040.farmland.org/.
xvii Whatcom Conservation District, "FY2023 Annual Work Plan," accessed February 21, 2023,
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jpab7vsmuhc7957/AAB28zDxCWxrd8D4608RJopMa?dl=O&preview=2023
Ann ualWorkPlan. pdf.
xviii Ibid.
xix Ibid.
xx Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee, "Whatcom County Climate Action Plan," 2021,
https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/61403/CAP-Final--20211022-ver2.
xxi Whatcom Conservation District, "FY2023 Annual Work Plan."
Page 44
xxii Ibid.
xxiii USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture, "County Profile for
Whatcom County, Washington," accessed February 21, 2023,
https:/ /www. nass. usda. gov/Publications/ AqCensus/2017 /Online Resources/County Profi !es/Washington/
cp53073.pdf.
xxiv USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture, "Table 2. Market Value of
Agricultural Products Sold Including Food Marketing Practices and Value-Added Products: 2017 and
2012," 2017,
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/ AgCensus/2017 /Ful I_Report/Volume_l,_ Chapter _2_ County _L
evel/Washington/st53_2_0002_0002.pdf.
xxv USDA NASS, "County Profille."
xxvi Ibid.
xxvii U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Surveys, County Business Patterns, accessed February 21, 2023,
https ://data.census.gov / cedsci/ta ble ?g=0400000USS3 _ 0SO0O00US53073&n=l 1411&tid=CBP2020. CB20
0OCBP.
xxviii Received by Cat Sieh, Number of Butchers in Whatcom County, 14 Feb. 2023.
xxix U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Surveys, County Business Patterns.
xxx USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture, "Table 7. Hired Farm Labor -
Workers and Payroll: 2017,"
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/ AgCensus/2017 /Ful I_Report/Volu me_l,_ Chapter _2_ County _L
evel/Washington/st53_2_0007 _0007 .pdf.
xxxi Washington State Employment Security Department, "Agricultural Employment and Wages," accessed
February 21, 2023, https://esd.wa.gov/labormarketinfo/ag-employment-and-wages.
xxxiiwashington State Employment Security Department, "2022 Occupational Employment and Wage
Estimates," July 2022, https://media.esd.wa.gov/esdwa/Default/ESDWAGOV/labor-market-
info/Libraries/Occupational-reports/OES/Occ-employment-and-wage-estimates-2022.pdf.
xxxiii Data provided by Lora Liegel, director of Bellingham Farmers Market.
xxxiv Map the Meal Gap: "Food insecure" refers to the population with "a lack of access, at times, to
enough food for an active, healthy life or with uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods"
(Feeding America, "Map the Meal Gap," accessed February 21, 2023, https://map.feedinqamerica.org/);
Jen Daly, "June 2022 THRIVE I Food Insecurity," June 15, 2022, https://whatcomcf.org/june-2022-thrive-
food-insecurity/.
xxxv Cohen, Mike. "Visits to Whatcom County Food Banks Each Fiscal Year." Whatcom Food Bank
Network, Nov. 2022.
xxxvi Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Child Nutrition Program Reports, accessed
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