GoodRoots Northwest outlines food‑locker network and plans to connect farmers with remote Pierce County communities
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Summary
Stacy Cernich of GoodRoots Northwest told the council on April 28 that a network of food lockers launched in March 2022 has expanded through multiple phases to serve rural areas and colleges, and the group plans pilots to deliver local farm products to communities such as Crystal Mountain and Greenwater.
Stacy Cernich, chief executive officer of GoodRoots Northwest, told the Pierce County Council on April 28 that the nonprofit’s food‑locker network has moved from pilot projects into broader phases aimed at rural communities, college students and food deserts in the county.
Cernich said the organization launched its first lockers in March 2022 and described a phased rollout: phase 1 placed lockers in Bonney Lake, Buckley and Orting; phase 2 targeted smaller rural communities under 20,000 residents; and phase 3 is focused on community and technical colleges to serve working students who have trouble accessing food while attending classes.
Cernich said lawmakers and county officials supported early pilots: she thanked council support and said the group worked with Representative Kim Schrier and Representative Marilyn Strickland to expand placements in outlying communities. She said a phase‑2 deployment in Carbonado resulted in 80 household orders within 48 hours, showing latent local demand.
Cernich described phase 4 as a planned pilot to bring direct‑to‑consumer farm products into remote locations via locker infrastructure and suggested integrating lockers with farmer market networks so producers could sell into underserved high‑elevation or remote communities.
Why it matters: GoodRoots officials said locker technology can provide an alternative to brick‑and‑mortar grocery stores in thin markets and help working students and remote residents get reliable access to fresh food.
Cernich thanked the council for pilot support and said the nonprofit will return with updates as pilots and college partnerships proceed. Council members and presenters discussed possible collaboration to improve food access for resort employees and remote residents.
