Food Policy Forum

Overview

The Washington State Food Policy Forum (Forum) was created through a Legislative budget proviso in 2016 and charged with making meaningful recommendations for improving the food system in Washington.

To accomplish this, the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC), the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), and The Office of Farmland Preservation (OFP) convened a cross-sector group of food system stakeholders to consider and develop recommendations that have broad support from the Forum’s diverse members. Final report and recommendations in the Resources page.

The 2019 legislature again directed through a proviso that SCC, WSDA and OFP coordinate implementation of the Forum and to develop and report on preferred implementation approaches for the recommendations.  

More information can be found in the Food Policy Forum Charter here.

Find a current Food Policy Forum Member Roster here.

View FPF Meeting Schedule

2023 Food System Support Grants Awarded to 11 Conservation Districts

Eleven conservation districts have been awarded a total of $55,000 in small grants to strengthen the food system statewide. Grants to conservation districts will be made available subject to the requirements described in the announcement.

Emphasizing highly collaborative projects, these grants will actively increase food system connections within underserved communities. Grant-funded activities address vulnerabilities in the food system and were identified in the 2021 FPF Recommendations to Legislature and by conservation districts in last year’s food system grants.

View 2023 Funded Projects

Food Policy Forum Goals

  • Increase direct marketing sales and consumption of Washington-grown foods;
  • Expand and promote programs that bring healthy and nutritious Washington-grown foods to Washington residents;
  • Examine ways to encourage retention of an adequate number of farmers for small scale farms, meet the educational needs for the next generation of farmers, and provide for the continued economic viability of local food production, processing, and distribution in the state;
  • Reduce food insecurity and hunger in the state; and
  • Identify ways to improve coordination and communication among local food policy entities and communication between the local food policy entities and state agencies.

Get Involved!

Interested in becoming a member of the Food Policy Forum?

Members of the Forum are jointly appointed by the the director of SCC and the director of WSDA with no appointment made unless each concurs.  If you are interested in serving as an appointed member, please send your contact information and a description of your interest to Alicia McClendon.

Interested in staying connected?

Send contact information to Alicia McClendon.

Updated September 2019

Meet the Food Policy Forum Team

Alicia McClendon
Administrative Assistant