SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — In the rolling countryside of Spokane County, a new farm with a powerful mission has taken root.
Wild Sage Farms, operated by Air Force veteran Heather Delanoy, isn’t just growing vegetables – it’s cultivating a solution to the growing problem of food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is at an all-time high, and it’s just going to get higher and higher, and it’s going to be harder to get those healthy foods,” Delanoy said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects food prices will climb 3.2% in 2025, making it increasingly difficult for families on tight budgets to prioritize nutritious options.
This reality prompted Delanoy to make a dramatic career change in 2020, leaving her position as an aerospace technician to pursue what she calls a “crazy dream” – creating affordable access to healthy food for families in need.
“Healthy food should be attainable for everybody, no matter who you are, what’s going on,” Delanoy said. “It’s important to eat healthy food because you feel good.”
Wild Sage Farms operates on 2.5 acres of land where Delanoy specializes in creating plant starts – pre-grown plants ready for customers to transfer to their home gardens. This innovative approach gives families a jump start on growing their own fresh produce rather than relying solely on increasingly expensive store-bought vegetables.
The farm offers an impressive variety of plant starts including pumpkins, eggplant, chili peppers, and garlic.
“It’s all sprouting up nicely. It’s all healthy,” Delanoy said, admiring her newly grown garlic.
What makes Wild Sage Farms particularly accessible is Delanoy’s commitment to economic inclusivity. She sells her plant starts at the local farmers market and accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits.
“It’s an overwhelming response,” Delanoy explained. “Probably half of the people who show up to Kendall Yards are using those SNAP benefits and those WIC cards.”
Despite her mission to keep prices affordable, Delanoy faces the same economic pressures challenging many small agricultural businesses. Rising costs for fertilizer, seeds, and farm equipment – compounded by recent tariff increases – have created additional hurdles.
To mitigate these challenges, Delanoy has implemented strategic purchasing practices, buying supplies in bulk now to avoid higher prices later.
Even with these financial pressures, she remains steadfast in her commitment to keeping her produce affordable, especially as discussions about potential cuts to SNAP benefits continue at the federal level.
“It’s so important for those programs to continue,” Delanoy emphasized. “The government is talking about squeezing them, but we’ve got to be offering healthy food to the people who need it the most.”
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