Current Projects
None at this time
Past Projects
Logistics and Efficiency of Local Food Distribution in Kitsap County, Washington
Washington State University (WSU) Kitsap Extension led a USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)‑funded planning project (2023–2025) supporting the Kitsap Food Systems Roundtable and its partners. This initiative evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the local food distribution system in Kitsap County.
The long-term goal is to identify strategies that improve logistical efficiency and economic viability within the regional food system, with a focus on better serving farmers, food producers, and food access organizations.
As part of this work, the project conducts a comprehensive, countywide assessment of the local food distribution landscape. The effort brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to identify shared challenges, gaps, and opportunities across the system.
The findings from this assessment inform actionable recommendations to strengthen and optimize the local food distribution network for long-term benefit.
Kitsap Harvest
Kitsap Harvest was an original project under the Kitsap Public Health District, that transferred to WSU Kitsap in 20216. After building the program up through staffing and resources, Extension assisted the program in its transition to a non profit. The organization now operates as a gleaning organization, actively harvesting fresh produce from the local landscape. This pivotal role in gleaning serves as its primary function, facilitating the distribution of healthy food to the community. Learn more about the history of Kitsap Harvest here.
Kitsap Food Landscape Assessment
This mapping and assessment project led by Laura Ryser, Assistant Professor in Food Systems & Community Development, measured social and environmental factors that influence how and where a person purchases food throughout Kitsap County. Download the full Kitsap Food Landscape Assessment here (opens as PDF)
Kitsap Fresh Online Marketplace
From 2015-2018, WSU Kitsap Extension worked with local farmers and food advocates to create Kitsap Fresh, Kitsap County’s first farmer-led cooperative dedicated to coordinating a year-round, weekly online marketplace that sources food from local farms and food businesses, aggregates the food into customer boxes, and distributes the food throughout the county. WSU Extension was awarded a USDA Local Food Promotion Program Grant to assist in all aspects of Board and operations development, distribution logistics, food safety protocols, community outreach, and marketing. Read Final Grant Report (PDF)
Kitsap Food Policy Council
From 2015-2018, Laura Ryser, WSU Kitsap Extension Faculty, participated in the Kitsap Food Policy Council, an advisory body to the Board of County Commissioners. The Council was made up of a dozen multi-sector stakeholders who contributed to the development of over 40 food policies that were incorporated into the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update. Read the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update (PDF)
Regional Food Policy Council
From 2015-2018, Laura Ryser was a member of the Regional Food Policy Council, facilitated by the Puget Sound Regional Council. Aimed at developing just and integrated policy and action recommendations that promote health, sustain, and strengthen the local and regional food system, the Council engaged and partnered with agriculture, business, communities, and governments in the four-county region of Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Kitsap. This Council held many public forums on several food policy topics and worked to gain recognition of the “local food system” as a component of the 2016 Regional Economic Strategy.