FareStart

For over 30 years, Farestart has supported food security across the seattle area while providing job training opportunities for our students. We contract with nonprofit organizations, shelters, schools and daycare centers to provide nutritious, prepared meals to mostly food insecure communities. We also operate a mobile community market that provides fresh produce and staples to underserved communities in south king county. In 2023, we provided 862,965 prepared meals and distributed 91,578 pounds of produce to children, individuals and families.

Farestart provides consulting, training, and resources to nonprofit organizations and opportunity employers across the united states. In 2023, 44 organizations were supported.

Our food-based social enterprise businesses (cafes and a contract community meals program) serve as classrooms where students gain on-the-job skills that prepare them for jobs in and beyond the culinary industry. Students learn and hone these skills while being in a supportive environment that includes wraparound social services such as housing, mental health support, transportation and more. In 2023, we served 745 individuals. 237 students enrolled across our job training programs and 173 students graduated. There were 85 job placements or promotions and 30 high school students earned high school credit.