Anna Chen’s connection to food began very early. Some of her first food memories are of working at her family’s restaurant in Taishan, China. After moving to Seattle with her family in 1998, Anna noticed that many of her elderly and disabled Beacon Hill neighbors had to get help from their children and grandchildren to grocery shop. She saw a need… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program is ringing in the new year with a major expansion! On January 1, Fresh Bucks welcomed more than 4,500 households off the waitlist, increased monthly benefits from $40 to $60, and automatically extended benefits for 2025-enrolled and active households for another year. And on top of all that, there’s still room for new enrollment! Fill out the Fresh Bucks application at seattlefreshbucks.org. … [ Keep reading ]
Share OSE’s 2025 Wrapped series on social media: It’s been a big year for our office! Our team embarked on a new update to Seattle’s Climate Action Plan and increased access to healthy foods and nature for communities. Every year, we support community-led environmental justice programs to empower, protect, and… [ Keep reading ]
A new study from the University of Washington (UW) shows that the City of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program significantly improves food security and access to healthy foods for enrolled households. Fresh Bucks is helping people with low-incomes access more nutritious foods, reducing the risk of diabetes, heart problems, and other… [ Keep reading ]
It’s back to school season! With all the back-to-school advertisements, we compiled some sustainability tips to keep your school preparation affordable, simple, and climate-friendly. Every fall, more cars hit the road and more food and clothes head for the landfill, harming our environment and contributing to climate pollution. While the City… [ Keep reading ]
National Farmers Market Week is just around the corner! From August 3 through 9, we’re joining communities across the country to highlight the importance of farmers markets and the local farmers who make them thrive. Fresh Bucks is the City’s healthy food program helping Seattle households afford produce, operated by… [ Keep reading ]
The City of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program made big strides toward our mission to help households access fresh, healthy food in 2024. We worked to expand the number of retailers in the Fresh Bucks network, the diversity of produce options, and the physical locations of stores to better meet our… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) is excited to welcome La Esperanza Mercado y Carniceria in Beacon Hill and the Skyway Farmers Market to our Fresh Bucks network! Fresh Bucks is Seattle’s healthy food program that helps neighbors afford fruits and vegetables. Many Fresh Bucks customers live in South… [ Keep reading ]
The long-awaited Fresh Bucks Waitlist Application is now open! Seattle households can apply to join the waitlist for Fresh Bucks benefits, which will be offered as spots are available. The application will remain open for the foreseeable future. Fresh Bucks provides $40 per month to extend family grocery budgets while… [ Keep reading ]
This fall, three beloved locally-owned grocery stores have joined the City of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks network! Fresh Bucks is the Office of Sustainability and Environment’s (OSE) healthy food program that helps Seattle residents afford the fruits and vegetables they need to thrive. The program has taken off since it first… [ Keep reading ]
