This lecture will be talking about the importance of a localized food system as a means of food security and justice, as well as the process of entering the workforce as a young professional. We will touch on the importance of having passion and enthusiasm despite the threats of red tape and budget cuts within program development, especially when working within an organization with a committee and a board. 

This concept also relates to a broader idea of food justice as we see drastic budget cuts within the USDA during this transitional period in government. How do these budget cuts impact the local food system and the subsequent workforce? How can we actively engage with our local food systems and support our neighborhood farmers? All this and more will be covered in this lecture!

Suggested Pre-reading:
Food Hub Growth: A Case Study of the Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative (PDF, 1 MB)

Speaker
Sarah Quenemoen

I was first introduced to the concept of a food hub through my studies at Western Washington University. Here, I was able to acquire a degree in Environmental Policy, but the program that changed the trajectory of my life was the Climate Leadership Certificate. Having started farming in 2020, I had recently been introduced to the study and analysis of the broader food system which I operated within. The CLC program allowed me the opportunity to work at the Red Shed Farm and Classroom in Bloom – two farms in the Methow Valley that focus on hyper-local food distribution to food justice programs as well as the broader Methow community. The fire season that summer was very active, and I saw an impacted community struggle to find comfort and community in the wake of such drastic destruction. The evacuations and displacement of community members in a region with a mostly “invisible” houseless population opened my eyes to the necessity of food security within regional and neighborhood programs. I was able to build my thesis around this concept and investigated food hubs as a tool of food security. After farming for a couple more years, I was able to land in a position with the Southwest Washington Food Hub as their Sales & Marketing Coordinator. Here, I develop sales channels and advocate for local foods amongst growers and changemakers alike.

Zoom link: https://evergreen.zoom.us/j/87559132782

For more information about this and future CELTC Lectures visit https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/centers-institutes/entrepreneurial-leadership/events