Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy. CISA is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. We began this work more than 20 years ago, and thousands of people in our region have contributed to our success and impact. More than 250 farms participate in our programs, and the number of residents who are committed to supporting local agriculture grows every day. Our Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® program, the longest-running agricultural buy-local campaign in the country, connects farmers and the community, improving farm business viability and enhancing the quality of life for residents across the region. Additional programs include Senior FarmShare, technical assistance for farms and food businesses, and research and support for local food and farm businesses of all kinds, including processors, distributors, and producers of value-added products like jams, cheeses, and pickles. Recent initiatives include CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund, significant expansion of our work in Hampden County, and support for the creation of the PVGrows Community Investment Fund, a project of the collaborative PVGrows Network.

Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT) is the only land trust in the state dedicated to the protection of our family farms. Since our founding in 2002, we have protected over 2,500 acres of farmland ourselves, and have helped our partners protect nearly 1,000 additional acres. In spite of our efforts and those of our partners, every year Connecticut loses 20% more farmland than it saves. If we hope to have a vital regional food economy in the years to come, that pace is unsustainable.

Since 1966, Conservation Law Foundation has used the law, science, policymaking, and the business market to find pragmatic, innovative solutions to New England’s toughest environmental problems. Whether that means cleaning up Boston Harbor, protecting ocean fisheries to ensure continued supply, stopping unnecessary highway construction in scenic areas, or expanding access to public transportation, we are driven to make all of New England a better place to live, work, and play. What’s more, we have the toughness to hold polluters accountable, and the tenacity to see complex challenges through to their conclusion. CLF is also nimble enough to adjust course as conditions change to achieve the best outcomes. Our goal is not to preserve what used to be, but to create an even better New England — a region that’s truly thriving.

Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and research based solutions together, helping New York State families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world.

Farm to School programs link schools with local farms. While programs vary one to another, they often include: school meals featuring local food, food and agriculture education in the classroom, school gardens, field trips to farms, and celebrations. Students learn about their local agriculture system and have better access to delicious local foods; farmers expand markets for their products; and local economies grow stronger.

Founded in 2001, Cultivating Community creates and sustains greater access to healthy, local foods; empowers people to play many roles in restoring the local, sustainable food system; and models, teaches, and advocates for ecological food production.