Indicator: Amount of Food Bank Donations Which are Locally-Grown

1,018,217 pounds in Spokane County (2009)

Why is this important?

Locally-grown food is a very important part of community sustainability. Individuals who run local farms, community gardens, and personal gardens can all contribute to their local community and economy, through farmers markets, co-ops, and food banks, rather than simply buying non-local food from the grocery store.

The business of creating and maintaining all the links in the local supply chain-aggregating, processing, packaging, storing, and transporting products-translates into jobs that cannot be outsourced.¹

Locally-grown food will be fresher, tastier, and more nutritious as well, as it is usually eaten soon after it is harvested. Also, local food is harvested when it is ripe rather than allowing it to store-ripen, which makes local food more nutritious.

In essence, this effort "hinges on community involvement. Home gardeners, farmers, schools, places of worship, youth and community organizations, and area businesses can help make a difference for their neighbors in need.²

Furthermore, food produced locally requires less travel distance and time and packing materials, which is great for the environment, both locally and world-wide! If Spokane is to become more sustainable, we need to rely less on outside sources for our food. This includes food which is donated to the hungry. Donating local food keeps Spokane's wealth in the community, rather than buying food from other places and sending our dollars out of the community.

What will be measured and how? 

The total pounds of locally grown food donated to local food banks. This is an indirect way to measure how much food is locally produced, as well as the level of local generosity. 2nd Harvest Food Banks weighs all the food donated, and will calculate the yearly amount of locally-grown and produced food.

Where are we now?

Spokane currently has a "Plant a Row for the Hungry" program, which advocates donating locally-grown food. Also, many farmers donate their surplus produce or products. For example, every year Greenbluff farms donate all the surplus apples at the end of the season. For the fiscal year of 2009 (July 2008-June 2009), there were 1,018,217 pounds of locally-grown food donated in Spokane County.³

What can I do?

• Buy locally grown food
• Make a trip to the farmers market
• Check for local food labels at the grocery store
• Order regular produce from a local farm. For example, you can order a weekly produce delivery from the P.E.A.C.H. Community Farm, located in Spokane County.
• Start your own garden! Although it takes some time and a little money, the benefits are well worth the effort. If you have surplus, donate a row to the food bank to give back to the community!
• Get to know your neighbors, and start a community garden. This way, you can share the work and costs and enjoy the benefits together.  

1.) "Local Food as an Economic Stimulus" BioCycle World, JG Press Inc. March 2009 pg 10.
2.) "Plant a Row for the Hungry" 2nd Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest.
3.) Nick DiBartolo, 2nd Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest.