In collaboration with King County, Tilth Alliance and Cascade Harvest Coalition, King Conservation District developed an easy-to-use online tool that farmers, cottage industry business owners, facility owners and policymakers can use to identify opportunities for local food production expansion in King County.
The Infrastructure Mapping Tool provides access to information about more than 400 food system facilities in King County. The database enables local farmers to connect with facilities they can use to add value to their products, thus expanding their market reach. The tool provides access to a information about wide range of food processing and distribution facilities, including commercial kitchens, bakeries, co-packers and wholesalers, distributors, dryers and dehydrators, freezers, meat and poultry processors, and storage facilities.
In addition to providing farmers with access to much needed infrastructure, it is also a valuable resource for assisting municipalities with food system policy and planning, including siting and funding decisions. Private businesses and non-profit organizations can also use the information for working together to create food hubs and other projects that are looking to site and develop food system infrastructure.
The Online Infrastructure Mapping Tool was made possible by a Planning Grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program.