LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
Foodshed Alliance (FA), Sustainable Agriculture Enterprise (SAgE) Program
Resources are provided for:
New farmers,
Beginner farmers (1-10 years farming),
HU farmers (as defined by NRCS),
Marketing,
Land Access,
Conservation practices,
Equipment purchasing or rental,
Education
Programs:
All of FA:
-Farmer Trainings: In person workshops and recorded webinars focused on supporting business viability and innovative climate-smart practices in agriculture
-Affordable Farmland Access - SAgE Program: provide affordable, long-term leases on preserved farmland with farmers who are committed to growing organic/regeneratively
-Gleaning Program - LocalShare: Team of staff and volunteers come to your fields and harvest surplus for donation to local food access/pantry programs.
-Food Hub Sales / Market Access Opportunities: Partners with urban and other institutional buyers with the purpose of connecting farmers with reliable market outlets and revenue streams.
-Specialty Crop Marketing Campaign: "Know Farms, Know Food" designed to increase consumer awareness and engagement with their local specialty crop farmers. Participating farms get ongoing social media, enews, and other digital media promotions; and are eligible for stipends to off-set the costs of on-farm events that will increase public awareness of their farms and the crops they grow. FA hosting consumer education events/workshops/webinars to teach public about seasonality, creative cooking ideas, farmer challenges, etc.
-Promote Environmental Stewardship with River Friendly Farms Certification: Let the public know about your farm's excellent environmental stewardship with this voluntary certification. Through the process farms receive technical assistance with any challenging areas of the farm to ensure best practices in conservation.
-Heritage Grains Project: Revitalizing local agriculture by promoting regenerative practices in grain production. This project is curating a network of Regenerative Grain Farmers to support each other, a resource and equipment sharing network, educational opportunities -- in person, online, and in a written manual; as well as HUGE MARKET POTENTIAL with River Valley Community Grains.
More Info:
The Foodshed Alliance is a nonprofit organization in New Jersey dedicated to helping farmers, feeding people, and protecting the environment. Our mission is to strengthen sustainable and regenerative farming, increase access to local, healthy food, and safeguard the environment for all members of our communities. We believe that the future of our health, our land, and our communities depends on the viability of local farms—farmers are the keystone to our connection with food, the land, and our sense of place. This conviction drives us to work with farmers, consumers, agricultural professionals, academia, and community partners to rebuild a resilient and healthy “foodshed” that supports farmers, nourishes people, respects the land, and strengthens communities. The Foodshed Alliance is a 501 (c)(3) registered non-profit devoted to promoting sustainable farming and locally grown, fresh, healthy food in northern New Jersey.