The Skagit Valley Co-op Board is pleased to welcome Laura Bady! Laura is a Registered Dietician, Nutritionist in private practice who has helped people from diverse cultures live healthier lives and guided them towards their goals with sound nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. The Board’s current expertise includes fiscal management, strategic planning, leadership, assessment and evaluation, and management. Laura will bring new skills to our team, and adding nutrition knowledge to our perspectives is a wonderful complement to the food, farming, and public health emphasis that exists on the board. She’ll also be contributing to the Natural Enquirer.

In other Board news, we are pleased to announce that Operations Director Michael Marques is representing the Co-op in a community-wide workgroup on food security. The workgroup is sponsored by the Population Health Trust, the community advisory board to Skagit County’s Board of Health. The project is designed to build connections across sectors, analyze data, learn about resources and services, and develop a plan to increase food access in our community.

Michael at a workgroup meeting for food insecurity.

Access to nutritious food is essential to promoting good health and well-being. Children who have stable access to food can focus on learning, adults can maintain employment, and seniors can enjoy an active and independent lifestyle. As part of the work to increase access to nutritious foods for all Skagitonians, we must review practices that can widen gaps in food insecurity. Building an equitable food system will contribute to a thriving community for all.

Participants to the workgroup were selected for their knowledge and expertise in working to improve the food system in Skagit County. Michael serves as the representative for the retail sector. His participation directly supports a Board goal to increase the Co-op’s community engagement. The Board has been highly focused over the past several years on a vision to expand our focus on the principle of Concern for Community. Establishing the Growing Good Fund and our partnership with Viva Farms was an historic decision taken to solidify long-term solutions to food security and farming in our community. The Co-op’s involvement in the Food Security Workgroup is another way we can participate in an issue that is important to our membership and is supportive of our mission and vision.

Board of Trustees Updates