2025 Report

Building a Stronger, More Sustainable Local Food System

The King County Local Food Initiative (LFI) was first launched in 2015 to strengthen our local food system—supporting farms and food businesses while expanding access to healthy, affordable food for everyone. The 2025 update renews this vision with a 10-year roadmap that addresses today’s challenges and prepares for the future.

The updated plan reaffirms our shared commitment to a food system that is economically and environmentally sustainable, rooted in equity and justice, and responsive to the needs of communities across King County—from rural farmlands to urban neighborhoods.

King County’s food system is diverse and dynamic, yet faces growing challenges: rising food insecurity, high farmland costs, limited infrastructure, and increasing impacts from climate change. Federal and state policy changes also influence local programs and funding, making coordination and collaboration more important than ever.

The 2025 LFI was developed through an 18-month community-driven process led by King County and the King Conservation District (KCD). More than 1,600 residents contributed through surveys, listening sessions, and interviews, alongside guidance from the Food System Advisory Council, a group of local leaders representing farms, businesses, community organizations, and government.

Community input shaped the plan’s four interconnected goals:

1. Ensure equitable access to healthy, affordable food
2. Build a thriving local food and farm economy
3. Protect farmland and support sustainable production
4. Advance environmental sustainability and climate resilience

The updated LFI includes 83 coordinated actions, with 10 priority actions identified to launch implementation. King County and KCD will help steward this work, but lasting success depends on shared leadership, collaboration, and community commitment.

The Local Food Initiative is more than a plan—it is a collective effort to build a just, sustainable, and resilient food system where everyone can access nutritious, culturally relevant food, farmers and food workers can thrive, and natural resources are protected for future generations.

We invite all residents, organizations, and partners to join us in building a stronger food future for King County.