Racial Equity, Anti Racism & Food Justice Statement

We Value People and Celebrate Community    This webpage is dedicated to transparency around Seattle Farmers Market Association’s (SFMA) work towards racial equity, anti-racism, and food justice. At the core, our mission is to facilitate a mutually beneficial connection between our community, the individuals who steward farmland and the makers of local artisanal foods and crafted goods. Our commitment to pursue racial equity, true diversity, and greater inclusion within our organization is equally rooted within our community focus. As a part of this work, SFMA and the SFMA Market Association commits to:  

  • Listening and learning from BIPOC voices   

  • Giving BIPOC Farmers priority and space at our market(s)  

  • Applying what we learn to our work, including our own organizational systems and structures.  

  • Increasing equitable access and learning opportunities for healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods. 

  • Holding ourselves accountable by reporting the ongoing work we are doing and what there is to do.   

Where we are today 

SFMA has continued to take steps to expand our understanding of structural racism and the food access disparities in our region. Since 2020, we have:   

  • Increased representation of BIPOC farms, vendors and staff 

  • Provided $10,000 in aid to BIPOC Farmers via our SFMA Market Association Farm Relief Fund. 

  • Applied for the Food Equity Grant with the City of Seattle to start a mobile food bank bringing culturally relevant food to underserved communities.  

We continue to provide and encourage diversity, equity, & inclusivity training for our staff members. By way of the Neighborhood Farmers Market, the 2022 Washington Farmers Market Association (WSFMA) and the Nonprofit Association of Washington conferences, we have participated in the following courses (course name|instructor(s) and/or contributors|date taken): 

  • Why Should You Build Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into your Market |Karen Bowes, Scott Gruber, Danielle Harrington, Tess Koning & Will Waverly |Feb 2022 

  • The Anti-Racist Toolkit | Sagdrina Jalal, Nedra Deadwyler, Shiny Flanary Terence Jackson, Qiana Mickie, Juju Harris, Karla Forrest-Hewitt, Julialynne Walker, Cheryl Whilby, Aja Embry, April Jones and Stacey Whitney | April 2022 

  • Food Sovereignty and Farmers Markets led by Valerie Segrest |Feb 2022 

  • No Going Back: New Demands to Lead & Design Racially Just & Loving Systems| LaShawn Routé Chatmon & Hugh Vasquez |May 2022 

  • Conflict De-Escalation & Bystander Intervention in Public Workplaces |Right to Be Organization| June 2022 

  • De-Escalation & Crisis Resolution 101 | Jackie St. Louis, MSC, LMHC |March 2021 

In addition to formal trainings, we share articles and dialogue from our individual cultural perspectives to form a diversified but collective voice.  We continue to seek additional trainings in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace.