NCW Food Council launches regional collaboration focused on food access

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON — A new regional initiative, the NCW Food Council, has launched with the goal of strengthening local food systems and addressing food access challenges across North Central Washington and the Colville Reservation.

The NCW Food Council was formed through a partnership between Blue Sky Minds and Thriving Together NCW. The council brings together organizations, agencies, nonprofits and community leaders to collaborate across sectors, share resources and develop coordinated approaches to food system challenges.

According to organizers, the council is grounded in the Vital Conditions framework adopted by Thriving Together NCW, which outlines foundational conditions that support long-term health and well-being. The council’s stated goals include strengthening cross-sector collaboration, sharing knowledge and resources, building long-term capacity among organizations and improving food access, food security and food system resilience.

The council plans to meet quarterly, with one in-person gathering each year held in North Central Washington. Organizers said the initiative has the capacity to reach nearly 300,000 community members across the region and the Colville Reservation while also supporting participating organizations through shared learning and coordinated efforts.

“Food is foundational to community health, economic stability, and overall wellbeing,” a representative of the NCW Food Council said in a prepared statement. “The NCW Food Council creates a shared space to align efforts, share resources, and develop collective solutions that can have meaningful, large-scale impact across our region.”

Organizers said the council is intended to provide a consistent forum for dialogue and action around regional food systems and to support community-driven initiatives focused on access to nourishing food.

Additional information about the NCW Food Council is available through Blue Sky Minds.