Washington State Food Policy Entity Assessment  

Food policy groups (FPGs), which typically include councils, networks, and coalitions, are collaborative bodies that bring together diverse stakeholders from various sectors to address local and regional food system challenges. The importance and presence of food policy groups have been steadily growing in recent years, driven by increasing awareness of food system issues and the need for coordinated action.   

The Washington Food Policy Forum, co-convened by The Washington State Conservation Commissionand the Washington State Department of Agriculture, contracted with researchers from the University of Washington’s Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program to conduct an exploratory project to learn more about the range of food policy entities in the state and to gauge the needs and opportunities for a greater level of connection between them. The project team worked to compile a list of food policy entities active in the state, and, through a series of interviews and surveys, compiled details on the form, function, funding structures, and focuses of each. Those participating in the project were asked about opportunities for a greater level of connection between food policy entities across Washington. Hopefully, this project is a first step toward increased support and opportunities to collaborate among the state’s many dedicated food policy entities.