Feeding Washington

We are excited that the Washington Department of Ecology is launching the Use Food Well program during National Food Waste Prevention Week!

"Did you know that food waste costs the average household about $1,500 a year? And it’s not just your wallet that pays the price. Food waste also has a big effect on the environment. You can be part of the solution by buying only what you need, eating what you have, and storing your food properly.

This is all part of “using food well,” the focus of a new, statewide campaign: Use Food Well, which is launching April 1, 2024, in conjunction with National Food Waste Prevention Week.

As part of the new program, a website, usefoodwell.org, will launch on April 1, 2024. The website provides Washington residents and businesses with tips on how to plan ahead and shop smart, guides to better food storage, and tips on meal prep and planning. You’ll also find creative recipes for items that often go bad before they’ve been eaten. Learn more about what you can do to reduce food waste and save money. Visit the Use Food Well website at www.usefoodwell.org."

Happy National AG Day! Feeding the Northwest works with over 60 grower, packer, and shippers across the Northwest who support our hunger-relief efforts. Their abundance of healthy fresh produce allowed Feeding the Northwest to ship over 72 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to food banks locally, regionally and nationally through the Feeding America network. Their support is immeasurable to the work we do to address food insecurity. We are grateful everyday for the work they do.

We are grateful for Hops n Drops "A Neighborhood Gathering Place" for supporting our mission to solve hunger across Washington State!

"The realities facing Washington’s hunger relief system demand a multipronged solution — we must both provide food to people experiencing hunger today while engaging in public policy and legislative efforts that can eliminate the root causes of food insecurity for good."

Together, we can eliminate the root causes of food insecurity — for good People don’t experience food insecurity and hunger because food is unavailable, they experience them because their income is inadequate.

“Because of higher prices, less availability and higher need, it’s a trilemma of things that we’re working through. Oftentimes, I’m asked ‘Is it better to give money or food?’ Right now, the answer is ‘Yes.’”

Soaring food prices and lower crop yields cause shortfalls at Spokane's Second Harvest sees higher demand At Second Harvest’s warehouse in Spokane last week, Eric Williams walked by areas with empty shelves that are normally filled with shelf-stable products.