VISION

We envision a food and cultural renaissance that embraces the pleasure, social value and economic benefits of good food and brings families and communities to the table.

 MISSION

To provide quality programs and authentic food experiences that create healthy communities and sustainable food systems.

OBJECTIVES

 In order to achieve our mission, we will:

Engage local communities in sustainable solutions that integrate community values, provide access to good food, support viable agriculture and strengthen local economies;
Provide leadership and technical assistance to enable every school district in the state of Washington to prepare healthy, locally sourced lunches, snacks and breakfasts available to every child.

 Facilitate research and education programs that address leadership and policy change for sustainable food systems and demonstrate best practices.

KEY STRATEGIC THEMES

Education

Our capacity to bring new thinking to the ecology of food, health and food security is achievable through the existing education system. Classroom and community access provide an ideal opportunity for communication and educational experiences that directly affect our long-term ability to influence how the public perceives and values our food supply while providing information related to energy reliance, ecological capacities and social capital. We approach education in the classroom with activities designed to engage students in the food experience. Our special programs, family activities and community events provide practical and enriching opportunities for families to come together around food.

Community Celebration

 The dynamics of human survival have always relied on our capacity to develop communities of like-minded individuals who share a common goal. When food was scarce, it had to be guarded, so families huddled close to eat what they had caught or picked. Somewhere in there may lie the origins of the dinner table, and explain how and when we ate became formalized. When food was abundant enough to share, it was passed around mostly at celebrations--harvest festivals (when the foods of autumn were eaten), at birth and death ceremonies, and in daily rituals that brought families and communities together. A co-evolutionary process unfolded over time between food, nourishment, and a sense of belonging. EFP offers community-based food experiences that reconnect people to food, to one another, and to their communities.  

Comprehensive Strategies

The dynamics of change within any structured organization or established system always presents challenges. For the past three years through pilot projects, field interviews, site visits, multi-agency interactions, and extensive observations, we have experienced first-hand many of the systemic issues that contribute to what is now widely acknowledged as a national health crisis and the emerging social challenges that result. Lifestyles based on convenience and over-consumption, distancing ourselves from family meal times, reliance on heavily processed, manufactured foods, and high stress schedules are all contributing factors that must be considered when designing a comprehensive approach. The health crisis is a complex issue and there is clearly a need for innovative and creative solutions. We believe school districts and community-based events are the most efficient platforms for instigating effective social and cultural changes in our approach to food and exercise.