The Food Chain
Nourishing our communities during the pandemic
Washington State is one of the most agriculturally productive places in the world, but COVID-19 has changed the way we produce, distribute, and share the food we grow.
Farmers need to get food to customers. Restaurants need to keep their doors open. We all need healthy, affordable food to eat. The pandemic makes these things harder than ever.
How can we ensure that every Washingtonian has access to healthy, affordable, and environmentally sustainable food during the pandemic?
What the community has to say:
To take on this challenge, you can choose from one of the following problem-solving prompts, or create one of your own using the following themes:
School Meals & Healthy Foods
Design a plan for school meals containing food that is grown locally in Washington, and provides healthy, good tasting food to students.
Background information
Food Waste and Climate Science
Reversing the impacts of climate change is one of the top priorities for Washington State. Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn drive up the negative impacts of climate change.
Background information
Food Production & Distribution
How can we help food banks connect with surplus food from farmers, restaurants, or homes?
Background Information
Consumer Science
What are some ways that shopping for and eating food have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in your community? How do you know that these changes have occured?
Create a meal plan and a budget for and individual's weekly food consumption that shows some of these changes.
Background Information
Restaurants & Hospitality
If you were a restaurant owner today, how would you change your business to respond better to COVID-19?
Background Information
Tools to help you implement this challenge case:
Get Instructional Guide
Use this guide to support your lesson/activity planning. Contains challenge case background research to share with youth and suggested activities.
Getting Started Guide
Use this checklist to help you plan your engagement with the challenge.
Submission Guidelines
The most creative solutions submitted will be recognized in Spring 2021. Take a look at the list of criteria, and learn how to submit.
Engage with Industry
Learn directly from industry leaders who work on them every day. Visit our schedule page to see the next engagement opportunity, and learn how to register.
Explore Future Pathways
Find information you can share with the youth you serve about college, Career Launch, apprenticeships, or postsecondary training in these fields.
Share on Lesson Bank
Share your lesson and activity plans with other teachers/program leaders statewide, and see what they are using with their students