Local Farms - Healthy Kids
The Network is a member in a broad coalition of environmental, farming, school and public health interests who worked together to conceptualize, draft and build support for Senate Bill 6483, the Local Farms Healthy Kids Act, which passed in March 2008. We continue to advocate for funding and implementation of these important programs whose purpose is to bring more local, fresh foods in to our own communities, supporting local farmers, feeding local people nutritious food.
Program Overview
The Network is a member in a broad coalition of environmental, farming, school and public health interests who worked together to conceptualize, draft and build support for Senate Bill 6483, the Local Farms Healthy Kids Act.
This new state law provides better access to fresh, Washington grown foods for all Washingtonians and helps keep Washington farmers farming. The bill was funded at $1.49 Million and signed into law on March 27, 2008. The new legislation:
- provides the first ever state grant monies ($600,000) for low income eligible schools to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables,
- launches a new Farm to School program within the state department of agriculture, ($290,000)
- provides additional funds ($200,000) for the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs which enables families and Seniors in need to receive food stamps redeemable at farmer markets,
- establishes a Farmer to Food Bank pilot program ($350,000) to enable Food Banks to contract with local farmers for fresh produce, and
- provides Farmers Markets funds ($50,000) to purchase equipment allowing them to accept wireless electronic benefits (i.e. food stamps).
This new state law helps all Washington citizens, regardless of income, have better access to fresh Washington grown food and keeps our food dollars in the state, our farmers farming and improves access to healthy foods for all. Purchasing local food reduces packaging, refrigeration, storage, and transportation, requiring less energy and less waste. Our Local Farms Healthy Kids program continues to work with the coalition to promote and track implementation of the new state law. The Network has been asked to serve on the hiring committee for the new WSDA Farm to School program manager position and the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Review committee for the new Fresh Fruits and Vegetables grant program.
