A new report from We Feed WA
Since 2021, We Feed WA and its partners have worked to eliminate hunger and advance equitable food access in Washington. This report tells that story, while also looking at what lies ahead.
We Feed WA Pilot Food Program
We Feed Washington concluded in July 2025. Final reporting on the program will be published by December 2025.
Providing emergency food for people experiencing hunger through partnerships with local or regional food producers, farmers and ranchers, processors and distributors, and hunger relief organizations, that serve socially disadvantaged communities.
This pilot program was started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
View the 2023 We Feed WA Final Biennial Request.
Developing the We Feed WA Pilot
In July 2021, WSDA launched the We Feed WA Pilot Food Program to bring emergency food from Washington-based farms and food businesses to socially disadvantaged people experiencing hunger.
The program launched two months after the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program abruptly expired. The USDA program provided economic relief to farms and food businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while providing low-barrier emergency foods to people who needed them.
While distribution levels varied over the course of the 12-month USDA program, during the final month it was still distributing approximately 1.5 million pounds of perishable food each week to more than 100 nonprofit organizations statewide. About 75 percent of these hunger-relief organizations had no pre-existing relationship with WSDA’s Food Assistance Programs.
The We Feed WA Pilot Food Program is a state alternative to the USDA program, filling the gap in Washington’s food assistance safety net by fostering economic vitality among producers and creating food access for low-income people across the state. This pilot program is in addition to, and works closely with, WSDA’s established Food Assistance programs.
The program launched two months after the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program abruptly expired. The USDA program provided economic relief to farms and food businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while providing low-barrier emergency foods to people who needed them.
While distribution levels varied over the course of the 12-month USDA program, during the final month it was still distributing approximately 1.5 million pounds of perishable food each week to more than 100 nonprofit organizations statewide. About 75 percent of these hunger-relief organizations had no pre-existing relationship with WSDA’s Food Assistance Programs.
The We Feed WA Pilot Food Program is a state alternative to the USDA program, filling the gap in Washington’s food assistance safety net by fostering economic vitality among producers and creating food access for low-income people across the state. This pilot program is in addition to, and works closely with, WSDA’s established Food Assistance programs.
Pilot Program Purpose
It is the purpose of this pilot to facilitate the procurement and distribution of emergency food boxes and/or food box equivalents and/or supplemental emergency food across Washington state to hunger relief organizations, including organizations that serve black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and other socially disadvantaged communities as directed by the Washington State Legislature. The We Feed Washington Pilot Food Program is part of the state's coordinated response to increased food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and recovery period.
Strengthening a resilient statewide network
The network of organizations engaged in WSDA's Food Assistance programs provide a broad, substantial emergency food safety net. However, there are inevitable gaps. The We Feed WA pilot is designed to provide resources to partners with unique abilities to address those gaps and overcome access barriers in underserved communities.
To establish initial contracts, the We Feed WA pilot initiated a public process for fiscal year 2022 to identify partners that have demonstrated qualifications and capabilities to provide services through June 2022. Contractors for the first year were announced October 1, 2021 and all contracts were in effect by November 1.
A competitive solicitation for 2022-23 (with services taking place July 2022 through June 2023) was initiated in the spring of 2022. Contractors for year two of this pilot were announced at the end of June 2022 with services in effect by no later than the end of the month July 2022.
To establish initial contracts, the We Feed WA pilot initiated a public process for fiscal year 2022 to identify partners that have demonstrated qualifications and capabilities to provide services through June 2022. Contractors for the first year were announced October 1, 2021 and all contracts were in effect by November 1.
A competitive solicitation for 2022-23 (with services taking place July 2022 through June 2023) was initiated in the spring of 2022. Contractors for year two of this pilot were announced at the end of June 2022 with services in effect by no later than the end of the month July 2022.
We Feed WA partners
The following organizations were selected to provide unique services and procurements across the state to achieve the primary objectives of this pilot:
To view the We Feed WA Program Manual for Phase 3 Grantees, please download it here.
- To feed people.
- To support Washington farms and food businesses.
To view the We Feed WA Program Manual for Phase 3 Grantees, please download it here.
Final Phase Year 3-4 Grantees
Year 2
Year 1
Focus on Food initiative
We Feed WA Pilot is part of the Focus on Food Initiative, which works to ensure that safe, nutritious food is effectively produced, distributed, and delivered to people who want and need it.
We Feed WA Pilot Program Contact Information
Address:
1111 Washington St SE, PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Email: wefeedwa@agr.wa.gov
Feel free to send inquiries to the general information contact above.
Jessica Hernandez, Program Lead
(564) 999-3799 Jessica.A.Hernandez@agr.wa.gov
Melinda Johnson, Grant Specialist
(360) 480-7550 Melinda.Johnson@agr.wa.gov
Ashley Blowers, Grant Specialist
(360) 223-6041 Ashley.Blowers@agr.wa.gov
Takeshi Nakachi, Grant Specialist
(360) 789-5199 Takeshi.Nakachi@agr.wa.gov
1111 Washington St SE, PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Email: wefeedwa@agr.wa.gov
Feel free to send inquiries to the general information contact above.
We Feed WA Team
Jessica Hernandez, Program Lead
(564) 999-3799 Jessica.A.Hernandez@agr.wa.gov
Melinda Johnson, Grant Specialist
(360) 480-7550 Melinda.Johnson@agr.wa.gov
Ashley Blowers, Grant Specialist
(360) 223-6041 Ashley.Blowers@agr.wa.gov
Takeshi Nakachi, Grant Specialist
(360) 789-5199 Takeshi.Nakachi@agr.wa.gov