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Local Food Initiative
The Local Food Initiative is King County’s policy roadmap to grow the local food economy and make locally grown food accessible to all. The original Local Food Initiative was published in 2015, and it is being updated for the first time right now! King County and King Conservation District are partnering to update the Local Food Initiative policy and programs.
What is the Local Food Initiative?
The Local Food Initiative aims to build a resilient and sustainable local food system that expands the economic opportunities and viability of local farms and food businesses and increases access to healthy affordable food for all residents of King County.
We do this by providing strategic direction around shared food system priorities; harnessing resources for projects and programs; building strong sustainable partnerships; and tracking, measuring, and communicating progress.
What does the Local Food Initiative mean to me?
The Local Food Initiative is for every resident of King County - from eaters to farmers to truck drivers. Whether you live in an urban, rural, or suburban area of the county, you eat every day. The LFI guides policy and funding to shape the future of what food is grown and enjoyed here.
How is the Local Food Initiative being updated?
Since its launch in 2015, the Local Food Initiative has served as a roadmap for food policy and action for stakeholders across the region and been the driving force behind innovative programs and projects. The refresh of the LFI presents an opportunity to build off our past success, learn from our failures, incorporate new policy and research, and integrate new voices and communities into the conversation.
The refresh process is expected to take approximately 15 months, with the new LFI completed by early 2025. A central component of the refresh will be engagement with communities and food system stakeholders across the region to help identify key issues and challenges and shape priorities for the new LFI.
To sustain engagement, a new King County Food Systems Advisory Council is being convened to guide both the development and implementation of the new LFI. This council consists of 20 diverse members from across the food system and the county.
How can I get involved?
Community engagement for the 2025 Local Food Initiative will be taking place from September 2024 to February 2025.Take the survey, participate in a focus group or send a comment directly to have your voice heard!
Participate in a focus group: To hear from a broad cross-section of folks in the food system, we will be holding a series of focus groups over the next five months. These focus groups are intended to provide space for deeper discussion on food system issues and will be used to inform the strategies and actions included in the new LFI. Find and register for a focus group.