Category: News
Spreading the Word About Food Resources
One of the barriers that keep families and individuals from meeting their daily food needs is not knowing about the resources available in the community. To increase awareness throughout the community, FIN held a four-hour workshop in June about how these programs and benefits work, who’s eligible, and how to access them. The 16 workshop participants learned about resources such as SNAP, WIC, food banks and meal programs, School and Summer Meal Programs, Fresh Bucks and Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and community gardens. Now the participants are equipped to help spread the word, and are able to do so in many languages. Here's what FIN Community Food Advocate and Steering Committee Co-Chair Gladis Clemente said about the training:
"I learned that food access is not simply a health issue, but also a community development issue. There are resources out there that can help those who struggle to afford enough food. As an Advocate, I think it's really important to promote these resources and share the facts with everyone, because there are some myths about the requirements to apply for this programs, and nobody should struggle to afford food for their families."Thanks to our partners, WSU Food $ense Program, Within Reach, United Way of King County and Tukwila Pantry, for presenting and sharing this valuable information. And a BIG thanks to the 16 participants who committed the time and energy to doing this important community outreach. If you are interested in having one of workshop participants present at a community event, meeting or class, please contact Kamal Adhikari at kamal@foodinnovationnetwork.org.
Namaste Farm Stand to Open in SeaTac and Tukwila!
Please visit our Markets page for current information about Namaste Farm Stand and Tukwila Village Farmers Market!
We’re thrilled to announce our community farm stand is returning this season, and has added a second location! We will host Namaste Farm Stand weekly at two locations: Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac and the new Tukwila Village Plaza near the Tukwila Library. Last year, FIN and our partner, International Rescue Committee’s New Roots program, hosted a farm stand for 10 weeks at the Matt Griffin YMCA, and the local fresh fruits and vegetables for sale were a hit. This year we’re excited to double the length of our season, now running June through October, and also add the Tukwila location. Namaste Farm Stand will sell fruits and vegetables from local producers including IRC New Roots’s Community Garden (Tukwila), Faith Beyond Farms (Enumclaw), and Collins Family Orchard (Selah). Each week we’ll do a cooking demo showing ways to prepare and cook the variety of produce for sale. We are fortunate to have great partners and funders in making this project happen. FIN and IRC New Roots would like to thank: City of Tukwila, Kona Kai, Communities of Opportunity, Les Dames d’ Escoffier, Matt Griffin YMCA, SHAG, and WSU Extension. Please join us for the Grand Opening at the Tukwila Village Plaza on Wednesday, June 13 from 4-7 p.m. We’ll have fresh produce for sale, as well as kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations, raffles, and live international music. And get your fresh fruits and vegetables from our local growers all season long! We'll operate two farm stands weekly from 4-7 p.m.:
- Tukwila Village Plaza (14350 Tukwila International Blvd, Tukwila), Wednesdays, June 13 – October 24
- Matt Griffin YMCA in the lobby (3595 S 188th St, SeaTac), Thursdays, June 14 – October 25 (non-members are welcome)
FIN Entrepreneurs at Renton and Federal Way Farmers Markets
FIN entrepreneurs will sell delicious prepared foods at farmers markets in Federal Way and Renton this season! Mark your calendars to come visit us:
Renton Farmers Market, Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
• June 5, 12, 19: Sherehe Kenya Kitchen
• June 26: Taste of Congo
• July 31: Naija Buka
• August 7, 14: Naija Buka
• August 21: Taste of Congo
• August 28: Naija Buka
• September 18: Taste of Congo
Federal Way Farmers Market, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• June 9, 16, 23, 30: Taste of Congo
• July 28: Taste of Congo
• August 4, 11, 18, 25: Taste of Congo
• September 15, 29: Taste of Congo
• October 27: Taste of Congo
Our Annual Resource Fair is Almost Here!
Join us for FIN's 3rd Annual Resource Fair
And connect with everything food!
Cater with a FIN business!
FIN is happy to connect you with a catering business participating in our culinary business incubator program. The businesses we work with each offer a unique menu with dishes cooked from scratch. Mian Dian, Rekebot Coffee House, Soozveen, Swahili Cuisine cook up dishes and flavors from China, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Kenya. They can cater for private or community events, festivals, business lunches, etc. Not sure which business to work with? We can help you figure it out!
If you have an event coming up, please fill out this catering request form and a FIN representative will be in touch soon.
FIN’s culinary business incubator program works with low-income and immigrant food businesses to transition from the informal economy to a formal business. Catering is an essential component of their start-up business model, and we want to connect these talented entrepreneurs to you… the customer!
SeaTac’s first farm stand This Thursday, 4-6pm at Matt Griffin YMCA. Get local fruits and vegetables.
SeaTac’s first farm stand at the Matt Griffin YMCA. .
Come shop for local fruits and vegetables at the farm stand this Thursday, from 4-6pm at the Matt Griffin YMCA. This week we’ll have cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, carrots, rainbow chard, sugar snap peas, salad mix and zucchini!
Come on opening day and get a FREE COOKBOOK!
What’s cookin’? WSU’s Food $ense will be doing cooking demos—sharing easy, healthy recipes you can use with produce bought from the stands. The Eating Well for Less cookbook features recipes and tips for eating on a budget. Recipes are kid-tested!
SeaTac Community Garden – Accepting Applications!
SeaTac's first community garden (located at North SeaTac Park) is now accepting applications! See the garden application for more details: CommunityGardenApplication_2017
Urban Agriculture Convening Update
In June, FIN hosted a second convening with organizations working in urban agriculture throughout South King County. The group discussed how as a network we can connect people to resources and land to farm or garden. As an initial step, the group began to create an inventory of community gardens, urban farms and related programs happening now. The group- the South King County Urban Ag Networks now meets quarterly and has listserv to share info and resources. If you are interested in learning more and joining the group, please contact Sheelan at sheelan@foodinnovationnetwork.org.
South King County BDT’s-Outreach-Curso en español
South King County BDT's-Outreach
– SeaTac Course in Spanish
Orientation Date*: Wednesday August 02, 2017 5:30-9:00 pm
*Attendance required to apply for the Business Development Training.
South King County BDT’s-Outreach
SeaTac Course in English 
English: Calling all entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in South King County! Do you have a business idea you’d like to pursue, or an existing business you’d like to grow? Register for the Ventures Orientation in SeaTac on Monday, September 11! Ventures and the Food Innovation Network are partnering to offer the first-ever business training in SeaTac. You’ll get an opportunity to learn about our program for small business owners with limited resources and apply for our 8-week Business Development Training course. The orientation is free and will be at Lutheran Community Services NW in SeaTac: 4040 S 188th St., SeaTac, 98188. Registration is required to attend, so click here to register now or call 206-352-1945 to register via phone or for more information.