Seattle releases first Food Action Plan progress report and new interactive map 

In 2024, the City of Seattle published an updated Food Action Plan, a roadmap for building a more sustainable, fair, and strong local food system. We’re excited to release our first annual report tracking progress from 2024! The report is also paired with a new interactive map to help people explore City-supported food programs and services across Seattle. 

Seattle’s Food Action Plan was developed in close partnership with community partners. The Plan reflects the wide range of the City’s food work and guides City departments that manage food programs and policies.  

Year One Progress 

• Hundreds of thousands of meals from schools, food banks, and meal programs supported children, older adults, and families. 

• Community gardeners stewarded more than 33 acres of public land and donated 42,000 pounds of fresh food.  

• Nearly $6 million in cash food assistance reached more than 23,000 households. This generated over $10 million in local economic benefits. 

• 180 small food businesses and entrepreneurs took advantage of City-funded assistance. Most of which were women- and minority-owned and operating at a very small scale. 

• The City’s enforcement of labor laws restored nearly $680,000 in wages for 512 food workers. 

• Through Seattle’s new Buying with Purpose guide, City funds purchased nearly $1 million in fresh, nutritious food from Washington farmers and producers. This generated $1.54 million in local economic benefits and strengthened regional supply chains.

Food insecurity, economic pressures, and federal policy actions are impacting every part of Seattle’s food system and our communities. Farmers are feeling the pressure, trying to grow and sell locally. Grocery workers, small food businesses, and families are navigating high food costs and limited access to healthy foods. 

This data shows how Seattle is responding to these conditions with intention, accountability, fairness, and real investments.  

Explore Citywide Food Services in New Interactive Map  

Seattle’s Food Action Plan map and dashboard represent a step forward in how the City tracks, shares, and acts on food data. The map offers a window into how all the food work happening in Seattle is connected.   

Community partners are central in shaping, carrying out, and reporting on the Food Action Plan. Our team at OSE is very grateful to the partners and community members whose leadership is helping build a more sustainable, fair, and strong local food system. 

Learn More in the Progress Report  

This first annual report responds directly to community calls for clearer reporting. Progress shows how City programs, funding, and partnerships work together to strengthen food security, support local food producers, prevent food waste, and create economic opportunities.  

The report highlights dozens of programs and partnerships, including food security initiatives, urban farming support, community-led food projects, and efforts to prevent food waste. It also shows how food policy connects with racial and social equity, climate preparedness, and local economic development. 

For example, two programs through the Office of Economic Development that support local food businesses recently reopened. The Accounting and Business Consulting (ABC) Program offers Seattle-based businesses and nonprofits up to 10 hours of personalized, one-on-one counseling at no cost on a variety of finance, operations, and long-term planning topics. The 2026 Tenant Improvement Program provides funding to Seattle small businesses for signage and equipment.

Thank you to the hundreds of partners powering this work across Seattle and our region. Subscribe to OSE’s newsletter for more good food news coming in March!