Tumwater City Council adopts food systems plan 

The Tumwater City Council passed a resolution to adopt a food systems plan at a meeting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

The plan is intended to guide the city in implementing strategies addressing food insecurity. It analyzes current conditions of the city’s food system and outlines approaches for overcoming challenges faced by various sectors involved with food.

The plan takes a holistic snapshot of issues and opportunities in land use, food production and processing, distribution, access, food waste and more.

Some of the identified strategies include reducing regulatory barriers, partnerships for food infrastructures projects, workforce development and developing a food waste campaign.  

While the document does not detail the implementation for strategies, Dana Bowers, an associate planner for the city, told the council that specific implementation steps have been included in the city’s 2026 work plan. The council is expected to review the work plan in December. 

Before apporval of the resolution, Thurston County Food Bank Executive Director John Ficker spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. He expressed support for the plan and thanked the city for its work amid the federal government’s decision to restrict benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

“I'm really grateful that you're taking on this important challenge at a time when politics and government shutdowns can interrupt people's lives as dramatically as we're seeing right now,” Ficker said. 

The plan can be viewed here.