Food Plan

The Whatcom County Food System Plan, while of noble intent, lacks traction. Like many bureaucratic speak plans, it has pages of aspirations such as fresh and healthy food for all but no way to get there. Food banks, which have received millions from local governments, are a vital part of access to food but they are not a cure all. Much of the food at food banks is high sodium or contains high fructose corn syrup. Frozen fish and meat donated by grocery stores is often rotten. 

The cure for widespread hunger is to reinstate the EBT "food stamp" funds cut by Congress earlier this year. This is not only the most direct method of achieving fresh and healthy food for all; it is also a way of ensuring people who have special dietary needs can get the foods they need.

Food banks should be viewed as one part of a system to distribute food, which works well for fruits and vegetables, cereals, nuts and dairy products. 

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