PIERCE COUNTY – Pierce County received a VISION 2050 Award for the Pierce County Skills Center: Transforming Food Waste Into Innovative Access.
Transforming Food Waste Into Innovative Access is part of the Pierce County Skills Center’s Culinary Arts Program, which is working to address food waste and food insecurity in Washington state. Each year, nearly 50% of food in Washington ends up in landfills, contributing to methane emissions. Through this program, high-school students transform thousands of pounds of surplus food into single-serve, ready-to-eat meals. The meals are then frozen and distributed via food access networks throughout Pierce County, providing healthy and nourishing meals to people in need.
In addition to reducing food waste, the program provides students in grades 11 and 12 with hands-on experience in meal preparation and sustainability. Students gain valuable skills in logistics, nutrition and food equity by working directly with local food access organizations. The program also works to reduce emissions and foster sustainable food systems.
The Pierce County Skills Center’s program showcases how sustainability and food security can go hand-in-hand. This program provides a scalable model for transforming food into vital community resources while also fostering long-term environmental, social and economic impact.
Scott Martin, Director of Pierce County Skills Center
"Through our partnership with GoodRoots Northwest, the Pierce County Skills Center Culinary Program is proud to advance VISION 2050’s mission by turning food donations into meaningful meals for our community as we help students build pathways to meaningful careers in the culinary industry."
Councilmember Dave Morell, Pierce County Council District 1
“I am pleased to see the Pierce County Skills Center receive a VISION 2050 Award for their efforts in transforming food waste into a valuable resource for community members facing food insecurity. By empowering students with practical skills, the Skills Center is not only addressing environmental challenges but also creating new opportunities in Pierce County.”
Josh Brown, Executive Director of Puget Sound Regional Council
“The Pierce County Skills Center’s Culinary Arts Program is a prime example of how we can achieve the VISION 2050 goals of sustainability, food security and climate resilience. The program not only reduces emissions by diverting food from landfills, but it also strengthens local food systems and equips the next generation with skills for a sustainable future.”
The VISION 2050 Awards celebrate progress to enhance the region’s communities and natural environment while advancing equity and opportunity for all. The awards recognize innovative work in the region to create a better future for central Puget Sound.
The award was presented at the Pierce County Skills Center on September 24.
The Pierce County Skills Center opened in 2010 to provide technical and professional experiences to prepare students in Pierce County for jobs and post-secondary education. The Skills Center offers 17 preparatory Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with a capacity of 900 students.
VISION 2050 is the region’s plan for growth. By 2050, the region's population will reach 5.8 million people. The region’s cities, counties, Tribes, ports, agencies, businesses, and communities have worked together to develop VISION 2050 to prepare for this growth and serve as a guide for sustaining a healthy environment, thriving communities and a strong economy.
