Here in Massachusetts and throughout the country, we’ve seen increases in the costs to grow food and buy food and a doubling of food insecurity. We’ve also seen the resilience of local food systems and the importance of farming and local food in weathering the crises caused by the pandemic, climate, and other global events. Despite the far-reaching importance of local food systems, since 2018, less than 1% of all funding to Massachusetts-based nonprofits has gone to support farming and local food.
During this program, we will focus on three issues within the farming and local food space and how they manifest in Massachusetts. Experts and practitioners will discuss topics such as what it takes to be a successful farm, equity in farming, and scaling up our local food system. Featured speakers from Massachusetts-based nonprofits will shed light on what their organizations are doing to support local food and farming and the different layers and aspects of their work. This session is an opportunity to hear from and meet nonprofit representatives working in this arena, as well as gather with other funders interested in supporting this work.
In the final 25 minutes, participants will have an opportunity to head into breakout rooms for more informal engagement with our speakers.
Our Speakers:
Margaret Christie, Special Projects Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
Joy Gary, Executive Director, Boston Farms
Jessy Gill, Program and Policy Director, World Farmers
Ruth Goldman, Program Officer, Merck Family Fund (Moderator)
Jennifer Hashley, Trisha Pérez Kennealy and Michael Kennealy Director, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Winton Pitcoff, Director, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative
This program is presented in partnership with the Sudbury Foundation, Merck Family Fund, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.
