The Foodshed Forum, in collaboration with Northwest Connecticut Food Hub, invites the community to “Sustaining Fairfield County’s Foodshed” a free, in-person panel discussion on Friday, March 7, from 10:00am – 11:30am at Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouses, in Greenwich.
All are welcome. RSVP directly to: ali@thefoodshednetwork.org
Farmers contribute four billion dollars into Connecticut’s economy. Their crops provide sustenance and nourishment to communities across the state. Farmers care for the land and waterscapes that sustain biodiversity. They foster food cultures. Losing this agricultural community and economy would be a tragic loss to Connecticut. And yet, farmers, especially those who are marginalized, endure a myriad of challenges: access to farmland and institutional markets, competition from developers, zoning regulations, housing and uncertain weather patterns.
The purpose of Sustaining Fairfield County’s Foodshed is to educate consumers and municipalities about their roles as investors in our local food economy, and in the future of agriculture in Connecticut. Moderated by Jovan Bryan, Community Conservation Coordinator at Connecticut Land Conservation Council, the panel will discuss:
– What it takes to collectively preserve Fairfield County’s foodshed.
– The needs of urban and rural farmers in order to thrive in Fairfield County.
– Pathways towards resilience, racial equity, farmer and consumer connectivity.
– The role of food hubs in building the local food economy through farm to school programs.
Panel speakers include:
• Kristin Floberg – Senior Planner at Western Connecticut Council of Governments
• Renée Giroux – Co-owner of Earth’s Palate Farm and Manager of the Northwest Connecticut Food Hub, and
• Reverend Sara Smith – President of nOURish Bridgeport
The Foodshed Forum, a program of The Foodshed Network, in collaboration with Greenwich Conservation Commission, is an educational and convening platform focused on systemic change in the food system. Our programs facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas and best practices among practitioners, and anyone who is interested in learning about and participating in a just, equitable, resilient and regionalized food system.
For more information and to view the invitation: https://view.flodesk.com/emails/679ed09ce5c99ab2b2a4b201
For more information about The Foodshed Forum: https://thefoodshednetwork.org/foodshed-forum-2025
