Purpose

A food system includes all of the inputs that impact food, from farm to fork to waste.  Findings from the 2021 update of the Community Food Assessment illustrate opportunities for making a more sustainable and equitable food system in Whatcom County.  This committee will build on the findings of the community food assessment by engaging areas of the food system, including fishing, farming, labor, food access, environment, and waste. The purpose of this committee is to draft, implement, provide oversight for, and regularly update a county-wide food system plan to strengthen our local and regional food system.  

The first survey seeking input for the food system plan can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/WhatcomFood1. This survey will close on July 1, 2022.

Authority

WCC Chapter 2.47

Members

The Food System Committee has 9 members.

Specifications:  
This committee shall include nine members appointed by the County Executive.  There shall be representation for a variety of areas related to food systems.

Current committee members:

• Margaret Gerard - Local Sales Farming
• Riley Sweeney - Food Access
• Amber Noskoff - Nutrition/public health
• Krista Rome - Natural Resources
• Rhys-Thorvald Hansen - Whatcom Food Network representative
• Vacant - Export Sales Farming
• Sean Hopps -Labor Issues
• Nikki Oleson- Processing/Distribution
• Paul Burrill - Fishing Industry

Interested applicants can find the application to apply here. 

Term Length/term limit

Term of office for appointed members is four years; limit of two terms served.

Meetings

In accordance with COVID-19 guidance, meetings are held virtually. Find the virtual meeting link in the agenda. Agendas prior to 2021 can be found in the Agenda Center.