Healthy food progress featured at Results Washington meeting

Kathy Davis
Communications

About once a month, state agency leaders gather to review progress toward meeting target measures established by Results Washington. Since 2013, Results Washington has aimed to drive improvements in key state goals that span education, the economy, the environment, public health, safety and effective government. 

Issaquah School District students showing off their lunches on Taste Washington Day 2016.

On Sept. 18, WSDA played host to the most recent of these Goal Council meetings in the Natural Resources Building in Olympia; this one focused on some measures in Goal 4; Healthy and Safe Communities. 

What’s our agency’s connection? Two sub-goals strive to increase availability to nutritious, locally sourced food for school students and low-income children and families. WSDA Deputy Director Kirk Robinson presented data and information showing our progress in those areas. 

Based on 2016 data which was collected by WSDA’s Regional Markets team, 98 percent of Washington schools regularly serve foods produced in-state, such as milk and apples. And they report interest in increasing their farm-to-school connection. 

A key activity to strengthen that school-farmer partnership is Taste Washington Day, an annual celebration to raise awareness around serving farm-fresh school meals. This year it takes place on Oct. 4. 

Fresh fruit and vegetables available at a food pantry.

WSDA’s Food Assistance team has also made progress increasing healthy food options available in the state’s food pantries and meal programs. For instance, through partnerships such as the Farm to Food Pantry Program, 112 food pantries in 15 counties have greatly boosted the pounds of fresh produce purchased or donated. 

WSDA Deputy Director Kirk Robinson, presenting to the Results Washington
Goal Council meeting on Sept. 18, hosted at the agency headquarters building.

The other main state presenter of the day was Dave Stillman, assistant secretary of Economic Services Administration within DSHS. Dave talked about helping public assistance clients achieve self-sufficiency. 

After Kirk’s presentation, Dave pointed out how children who are adequately nourished do better in school, which leads to reductions in inter-generational poverty. An apt reminder of how inter-connected our work across public service is creating a state where all Washingtonians thrive. 

In summary: WSDA hosted the most recent Results Washington Goal Council meeting focused on boosting the availability of fresh, nutritious food to school students and low-income families.