Washington Food Coalition Conference Set For Yakima This Wednesday

The Washington Food Coalition will be in Yakima Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the 2018 annual conference, addressing meeting the needs of hungry Washingtonians. Nicole Garden with the Washington state department of Agriculture’s Food Assistance program said this conference provides a unique opportunity for those interested in making small different to help their neighbors.

Garden said farmers don’t appreciate the power they have when it comes to addressing hunger. She notes the best food is grow locally.

“A story from one of our farmers in Eastern Washington, he believes that growing produce [for those that cannot afford it] is a basic human right. And in order to provide food and go to these food banks and actually deliver the food is amazing for him, amazing for his family, and just keeps him going.”

Garden said not only will helping address hunger make you feel better, it can also help your bottom line.

“73% of the farmers that are part of the initiative have said that having this as a whole sale market has actually helped their bottom line.”

Topics at this year’s conference will include: