SEATTLE — While eating fruits and vegetables is good for our health, buying fresh produce isn't always a reality for the thousands of families in King County who face food insecurity.
That's why The Tilth Alliance, a garden and farming nonprofit, is on a mission to bring healthy food into more homes through their Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands which grows 5,000 pounds of produce a year.
"It really got created by the community's desire to see this as an active sight in the neighborhood," said Gayle Sutherland, the farm's director of development.
Youth in the area and other volunteers help grow herbs and produce year round which can be picked by anyone in the community who may need extra food at no cost.
"Many of our communities come from cultures where they were used to that fresh food, they may have been gardening or farming themselves," said Sutherland.
The largest farm in the city sits on 10 acres of land in Rainier Beach and welcomes volunteers weekly to pack and deliver the farm's 40,000 Good Food Bags year-round - about 15,000 going to preschool families.
"Parents want to know that their children are getting the best nutrition they can... it's growing their brains it's growing their lungs it's growing their energy," added Sutherland.
In addition to produce grown on the farm, Sutherland says they also source produce from farmers across the state to meet the growing demand for culturally relevant food.
"We support small farms run by women run by veterans run by Indigenous, and BIPOC communities," she added.
Leftover food not included in the bags or sold at the farm's stand goes to food banks in the area like Northwest Harvest.
"We all know when if we eat something really fresh we can tell the difference we can taste it and just because people may be facing food insecurity doesn't mean they can't tell that difference," Sutherland said.
KING 5’s annual Home Team Harvest drive to benefit Northwest Harvest is underway. This year’s goal is to raise 23 million meals.
Ways to donate:
- Online through Northwest Harvest
- Visit your local Safeway or Albertsons to give $5, $10 or $12 toward grocery cards.
- Make in-person donations at two locations on Dec. 2 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rainier Safeway: 9262 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118
Everett Safeway: 5802 134th Place SE, Everett, WA 98208
Watch the Home Team Harvest broadcast special on Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. on KING 5, KING5.com and KING 5+.