Background and Overview of the Whatcom Food Network

April 25, 2011

Introduction
Successful local food system change depends on collaboration between food system and
community stakeholders including public and private sectors, in visioning, planning for long
term solutions and decision making.
- Montanas Cultivating Community Food Security Project
This document is intended to provide the background history and the vision of the planning
committee, give context for the purpose statement, functions for anyone considering becoming a
member of the Whatcom Food Network, now or in the future.
History and background
On June 22, 2010, four members of what would become the Food Network Planning committee
traveled to Seattle to attend the Access to Healthy Foods Coalition convened Food System
Strategies Summit in Seattle. The Summit brought together over 100 stakeholders to discuss
ways to strengthen the state's food system. During the Summit, Governor Christine Gregoire
signed an Executive Order directing state agencies to collaborate with non-governmental
organizations to strengthen the states food policy, programming, and to address other foodrelated issues. The order is called Strengthening Washingtons Food Systems through Policy
and Collaboration.
During the car ride back to Whatcom, we discussed how we could coordinate the many
organizations doing work in the local food system. We agreed to work together to make it
happen. A few months later we brought together a small group to work on the development of
the Network, with the idea that this advance work would more quickly be able to advance the
coordination of the larger group.
Whatcom Food Network Overview
This document integrates notes and ideas that came out of the planning meetings held between
August 2010 and January 2011. Additionally, we regularly referenced planning documents for
similar projects, such as the Multnomah Food Initiative, the Montana Community Food Security
Project, the WA Access to Healthy Foods Coalition report, the City of Vancouvers Food
Charter, and the Whatcom County Health Department Community Action Plan for Healthy and
Active Living.
We agreed to be a small group functioning as a planning committee to put on initial events to
bring forward existing food system assessments and research, and to establish the Whatcom
Food Network as a coordinating network of key food systems organizations.

We used the workbook Networks that Work: A Practitioners Guide to Managing Networked
Action by Paul Vandeventer and Myrna Mandell, to develop an action plan and Network
framework and plan to use it to guide the longevity and effectiveness of the Network once
formed. Every member of the planning committee has a copy and many elements of this plan
mirror the suggestions in the book. After establishing the purpose of the nascent Network, and
answering some of the foundational questions like what do we hope to get out of forming this
network (see below), we moved on to planning the Forum and the action plan for the
establishment of the Network.
Purpose Statement
The Whatcom Food Network is working to build common understanding and facilitate
collaborative efforts toward a healthy and equitable food system for all.
Together, we answered the following foundational questions:
Do we really want to do this?
Based on conversations with small groups and various community organizations now is the
time to build a shared understanding of healthy living, empower communities around food, and
to build transparency into the system by coordinating the many groups who have a role in the
food system, thereby reducing potential duplication in the future and strengthen relationships that
are already interdependent. We would like to have a good understanding of what we are all
doing, a sense of how we can link together, and how to best engage in food sovereignty issues.
What are networks?
The term network refers to many different organizations work in concert as equal partners
pursuing a common social or civic purpose for a sustained period of time.
The Whatcom Food Network will be a coordinating network, made up of representatives of
larger stakeholder groups, and therefore relies on the members to represent their work with
individuals or at the community level. Coordinating networks work together as a whole, but
each organization maintains its autonomy. The network comes together on issues that affect most
of the member organizations, and acts as a coordinating mechanism for their activities, allowing
them to get issues on the table or perform tasks that will benefit them individually and
collectively. (page 17, Networks that Work).
Groups and organizations in cooperating networks: create social environments that lead to
better personal and professional relationships, model and explain best practices for one another,
share information and work jointly to document problems, test ideas and learn about different
approaches to one anothers work in committees or work groups, convene problem solving issue
discussion sessions.
While the description of a cooperating network seemed like the place to start, we chose
coordinating as the type of network we would like to form in Whatcom County because in
addition to many of the activities that distinguish cooperating networks, a coordinating network
would best meet the needs of organizations to not take on more work, but enable us all to work
together more effectively across the food system.

Coordinating networks establish a more robust sense of mutual interdependence, and strengthen
individual and institutional relationships by engaging in activities that require greater mutual
reliance. (Networks that Work: A Practitioners Guide to Managing Networked Action)
How will we fund the network activities?
During the establishment phase of the Network, expenses are expected to be minimal.
Sustainable Connections Food & Farming program, Community to Community Development,
Crossroads Consulting and the Public Health Department each have goals related to greater
coordination and have a small amount of staff time to devote to the establishment and function of
the Network in 2010-2011. Otherwise, members of the Network will provide staff time equally.
In the future it may be necessary for paid coordination, in which case the funds will be raised as
needs are identified.
Who do we need to have on board?
The Whatcom Food Network is open to the many food system-related organizations, agencies,
and private sector groups as well as institutions playing a key role in the food system. The Food
System Chart, an educational tool used to map the food system actors and the role that they play,
will serve as the initial mapping of potential Network members.
Network Working Agreement (in development)
Working in concert and as equal partners, we aim to understand system-wide issues, while
relying on the organizational activities and individual autonomy of each participant to play their
role within the larger system. We agree to make sure the Network is focused on coordination and
the overarching goals, rather than spending time in meetings, or creating new projects.
What do we hope to accomplish by establishing the Whatcom Food Network?
Overarching Functions of the Network:
1) Understand mutual goals within Whatcom County.
2) Increase communication among food system-related organizations, agencies, and
institutions.
3) Identify overlaps and opportunities to build community capacity.
4) Identify potential partnerships, collaborative teams and opportunities to leverage
5) Gain a collective understanding of system-wide barriers and gaps.
6) Help us all fulfill our organizational, institutional, or greater missions and goals through a
more coordinated food system.