How the Fresh Bucks program is getting more people to eat their veggies

December 10, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

By Elizabeth Kimball, Healthy Eating, Active Living Program Manager Public Health, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Washington, performed a study to test the efficacy of three programs designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among residents of the South Seattle/South King County area. You can read the full article here, but the […]

Who is most susceptible to heat? It could be YOU!

July 23, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Temperatures this week are expected to rise into the low 90s, with some humidity. To my friends in Los Angeles and New Mexico, that’s scarcely hot enough to raise an eyebrow. But here in King County, most people don’t have air conditioning, so our local emergency departments see an uptick of people with serious health […]

A community of volunteers gives Elk Run Farm a new look

August 3, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Elk Run Farm, a former golf course turned farm in Maple Valley, supplies South King County Food Coalition’s twelve food banks with local produce. The farm is in the midst of a summer full of growing and harvesting healthy produce thanks to three brand new buildings constructed by AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC) volunteers. […]

Good Food Bags: increasing access to farm fresh produce

July 7, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

The Good Food Bag program is an effort that aims to increase the accessibility of fresh produce. The program, run by Tilth Alliance and Washington Community Action Network, delivers subsidized farm-fresh produce to families with limited financial resources in Seattle and South King County and has distribution sites that include preschools, churches and public health centers. The bags, which are […]

Limiting sugary drinks can make a difference in children’s health

June 9, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

By Patty Hayes, Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County Limiting sugary drinks are an important step for public health and particularly for the health of children and youth. All children deserve to grow up healthy, but children today could be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents. This is, […]

It’s not just you. It’s the cost of food, too.

June 2, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

If you are going to talk about access to healthy food, you have to talk about affordability. Why is Top Ramen cheaper than veggies? – King County resident This was the crux of a community conversation in South King County where residents shared the on-the-ground challenges to eating healthier food–challenges that go far beyond just […]