Whatcom Food Network

"Gina Plata-Nino, deputy director of SNAP at the Food Action and Research Center, on the Food Research and Action Center blog: "Millions of individuals with low incomes, including caregivers, veterans, older adults, and those experiencing homelessness will now face more hardship. It will increase administrative burdens on already strained state agencies and deepen food insecurity and poverty. Proponents claim that people can simply volunteer to maintain their benefits, but this “work-for-food” alternative is difficult to implement in practice. Outlined below are the significant barriers that make mandated volunteering a deeply flawed and burdensome policy, not only for participants but for the states and nonprofits expected to support it. "

SNAP benefits update: Trump's cuts could lead to 70,000 deaths Of the estimated 2.4 million people who could lose benefits, CAP estimates this could lead to 69,600 more deaths.

Community members are encouraged to join the Whatcom County Food Systems Committee meetings, including this Tuesday's (March 17) at 4:30-6 pm. Meetings are held in a hybrid format with the option to join online (see the Zoom link in our bio) or in person at the Health Department (110 Unity Street, Bellingham.)

This month the meeting will cover updates to the Food System Plan, a recap of the "Shared Table, Shared Future" event, and planning for the annual report.

Past meeting minutes and the agenda are available at the link in our bio as well. You do not need experience to join, and we value your input!

We hope to see you there.

We will have a table at tomorrows Farm Expo. Come say hi, grab a sticker, and learn more about food policy in Whatcom County.

The FREE Whatcom Farm Expo is TOMORROW! If you are looking to grow a living in Whatcom County, come over to the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds between 9AM and 2PM tomorrow to attend workshops, connect with other farmers and farm associated businesses, and to experience a youth engagement area or live animals. See the full list of exhibitors and workshops at: whatcomcd.org/whatcom-farm-expo

HB 2238 is due for another hearing tomorrow Friday 2/27 at 2:30pm. Please take 1 minute to help this bill by signing in PRO here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=34010&aId=171347&caId=28536&tId=3

HB 2238 calls for the development of a strategy for statewide food security in order to end hunger, reduce diet-related health disparities, and increase agricultural viability and supply chain resilience. This would be led by the WSDA.

Why is this needed? Getting geographically relevant, and timely data on our regional food system has been a consistent challenge. We need good data to make informed policy decisions, and this would fill a gap. Additionally, this framework calls for an interconnected lens of analysis in public health, hunger, and ag viability, and identifying strategies that support all three. Because of the interconnected nature of the food chain, this systemic approach is sorely needed, but previously lacking.

Much of our local food system plan implementation is dependent on regional collaboration. Tying locally-driven efforts into state-wide strategies will created a higher chance of success, as well increase our ability to measure the success of previous efforts.

Thank you for taking 1 minute to support this legislation!

To address food security, we need good data. And federal policies and funding priorities are making an already difficult process even harder:

Key points:

-The USDA has decided to end its long-running Household Food Security report, which for three decades provided the nation’s most comprehensive data on food access and hunger in the U.S.

-The final 2024 report shows food insecurity rising slightly, with 13.7% of U.S. households — about 47 million people — experiencing hunger, and families with children disproportionately affected.

-Experts warn that discontinuing the report will leave policymakers without critical data to guide programs like SNAP and WIC, though some members of Congress are working to reinstate it.

The Final USDA Household Food Security Report Shows Hunger Rising Across America In December 2025, the USDA released what is likely its final Household Food Security report, calling the 30-year survey “redundant” and “costly.” The report — long the federal government’s clearest measure of whether Americans could afford enough food — found 13.7% of households, about...

Everyone in the food system deserves justice and dignity. Join our partners at C2C in righting a historic injustice- the exclusion of farmworkers from collective bargaining.

As our food chain continues to become more concentrated, with agribusinesses buying up local farms and farmland, it is more important than ever that we empower workers to protect safe working conditions.

Farmworkers are on the edge of making history- and your solidarity action is needed. ⚠️

On Monday, Senate Bill 6045 passed out of the Ways and Means Committee. This success was due in part to your collective action when we put out the call. Thank you to the hundreds and thousands of you who have taken the time to keep collective bargaining at the top of legislators minds.

‼️Now the bill could move to a Senate vote at any time, and we need another push to ensure that this bill passes. ‼️

Farmworkers deserve the same rights as other workers, and this bill would correct a historic injustice of exclusion. You can support farmworkers in securing their rights.

Contact your senator to tell them Vote YES on SB6045!

You can find the contact information for your Senator via the link our bio. Unsure of who your representative is? Check the district finder also linked in the bio.

🌎 We affirm our dignity, power, and the right to organize for safer working conditions. 🌎

We understand that a thriving and just food system includes farmers, especially small organic and family operated farms. But the current exploitative practices must end, and the best people to understand what is needed in their workplace are the workers themselves.

SB 6045 puts power back in the hands of those most affected, for when other paths to improvement have broken down. As our food system continues to be swallowed up by agribusiness, these power imbalances will grow.

This is why it is critical that we empower farmworkers right to collective bargaining with SB6045. Contact your Senator today and share from your own perspective.

A short and sincere appeal will have the greatest impact in helping politicians understand that this is a necessary change.

On Tuesday, February 17, the county's Food System Committee will have a meeting from 4:30 to 6 PM. The public is welcome to join and are encouraged to share their thoughts and feedback.

If you, or any organizations you know of, are interested in working on food related projects geared towards food justice in Whatcom County, please join us or share this meeting with them. Or, if you're interested in learning what that policy is, come check it out.

Participants may attend online using the Zoom link in our bio, or in person at 110 Unity Street, in Bellingham.

We hope to see you there!

Take 1 minute to support WA state farmworkers as they secure their right to organize!

WA SB-6045 has a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee tomorrow at 1:30pm, and for it to successfully pass through Committee, we need another push of action from Farmworker allies. We need your support by signing in PRO before 9 am tomorrow Feb 5!
Sign in PRO here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=33826&aId=170052&caId=28038&tId=3

As the bill makes its way through the legislative process, it will have multiple hearings, and we need to demonstrate strong public support for each hearing. So even if you signed in pro last time, please do it again.

Its really easy to sign in PRO. Visit the link above and fill out the brief form with your position (PRO), name, email, city, state, zip, and phone and press submit! It only takes 30 seconds to support farmworker justice today!

Familias Unidas Por La Justicia, our local powerful independent farmworker union, co-wrote SB 6045, that will enshrine farmworker’s intrinsic right to build and form unions in our state law. This law will be a powerful tool to strengthen and expand farmworker organizing across Washington

SB 6045 will:
🔹 Create a process for farmworkers to organize and elect representatives.
🔹 Require employers (agribusinesses) to bargain with the workers for union contracts.
🔹 Provide clear oversight and enforcement through the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), which is prepared and committed to take on this role.
🔹 Reduce reliance on prolonged boycotts, strikes, lawsuits or federal claims that don’t protect farmworkers and are costly to employers.

Thank you very much for being a part of our movement! We will continue to let you know about critical opportunities to move these bills forward until we get them to the Governor’s desk!

Our friends at Birchwood Food Desert Fighters highlighted this legislative action to tackle food deserts and grocery accessibility. There is a hearing tomorrow morning.

This lines up with the priorities outlined in the Whatcom County Food System Plan, and we encourage you to sign in PRO before 10:30 tomorrow 1/27 to show your support. Direct link in comments.

Legislation would let WA cities run grocery stores, use eminent domain (The Center Square) – A proposed bill to the Washington State Legislature would allow cities to establish and operate grocery stores to address food deserts, a move that could help

Local elections have a huge impact on our local food system. This is a great opportunity to learn about the upcoming elections.

Come join us in exercising our collective power during this general election. We will spend the night in community, by eating together, painting pumpkins, and learning about what will be on the ballot.

If you won't be receiving a ballot or are not eligible to vote, you're still more than welcome to attend! Our vision is to create spaces where people can participate in civic processes regardless of voting status.

Please rsvp here: https://foodjustice.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=580