The 10-Year Food System Plan is in danger, and we need your support to save it.
Contact Whatcom County Council today at council@co.whatcom.wa.us to tell them to recommit to the Food System Plan.
The situation:
More than a decade ago, Whatcom Food Network was founded with the goal of bringing people together to address systemic problems in our food system. We successfully led the effort to create a new food system committee in Whatcom to advise County Council on food system decisions and began a multi-year effort to design a food system plan to build an equitable and sustainable food system. In 2023, that plan was adopted by Whatcom County Council, and implementation began.
Less than a year later, the Whatcom County Health Department reassigned the only county staff member dedicated to this work, with no plans to hire a replacement. The new staff liaison was given only 5 hours per month to support the advisory committee and food system plan- insufficient to maintain even the basic administrative support required by law.
Now, we are in the midst of cascading crises in our community food systems. The number of hungry families who are visiting our food banks is at an all time high while major cutbacks to SNAP are looming. Our local farmworkers are being targeted by immigration.Federal programs that supported food system infrastructure and agricultural investment have been slashed or eliminated.
The 10-Year Food System Plan was designed for this very moment, and we cannot afford to abandon it just when it is needed most.
Call Whatcom County Council today at 360-778-5010 and tell them it is critical to support plan implementation.
Next Tuesday, June 24th I will be presenting to Whatcom County Council’s Health and Public Works Committee on behalf of the Food System Committee and the Food System Plan. We are inviting community members to join our call for the council to remember the commitments they made to the community and to the well-being of our food system.
Without community pressure, it is likely that the Food System Plan will be completely sidelined and more than a decade of community investment squandered.
Here are three ways you can support:
- Attend the County Health & Public Works Meeting Tuesday June 24th at 10am virtually or in-person to show your support for the Food System Plan OR attend the full County Council meeting Tuesday June 24th at 6pm virtually or in-person and make a public comment about why the Food System Plan is important.
- Contact your Council Representative by phone or email and tell them to re-invest in the Food System Plan. This is especially powerful if you talk about your contribution to creating the plan, or how the challenges in our food system are impacting your life.
- Call Whatcom County Council at 360-778-5010, or email them at council@co.whatcom.wa.us to remind them of their commitments made to our community food systems when they adopted the plan in 2023.
Below is a sample script to get you started:
My name is [Your Name], and I’m [a resident of _______ / someone who works in _______ / a member of _______ organization]. I’m writing to express my strong support for the 10-Year Food System Plan and the work of the Whatcom County Food System Committee.
It’s important to me because [share something personal: e.g., “I see every day how food insecurity affects my neighbors,” or “I work in food systems and know the challenges we face without long-term support.”]
This plan represents years of community effort, and holistic solutions to systemic challenges — including food insecurity, inequity, and the effects of climate change. We need coordinated, long-term action, and the Food System Committee is uniquely positioned to lead that work cooperatively.
I urge you to re-invest in the 10-Year Food System Plan and commit to resourcing it fully. This plan reflects our community’s voices and our shared vision for a more just, sustainable, and resilient food future.
Thank you for joining your voice with others in support of the food system plan. Together we will fight for the well-being of our community!
Rhys-Thorvald Hansen
Co-Director Whatcom Food Network
