The past two growing seasons were unlike any other. Challenges including changing consumer patterns, supply chain disruptions, climate volatility, and worker shortages forced farmers to repeatedly adapt to new norms. This constant state of flux is exhausting, but presents the opportunity for reflection, learning, collaboration, and new planning models for future growing seasons.
The Hudson Valley CSA Coalition’s second annual virtual Summit will provide an opportunity to collectively explore and address these challenges in meaningful ways. Featuring six farmer-led learning circles on topics such as farmer housing and food access, and a keynote by Glynwood Director of Agriculture Laura Lengnick, the Summit is a much-needed space for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmers and food systems professionals to connect, learn from one another, and identify solutions to make the regional CSA landscape as vibrant as possible. Whether you are a flower farmer looking to increase member retention; a livestock producer struggling to recruit qualified labor; a vegetable operation hoping to supplement your share with wholesale cabbage; or a CSA interested in formalizing your food access program, the Summit will provide you with tools, an active learning space, and most importantly, a peer network.
Join us for an afternoon of peer learning, educational presentations, and community building.
Register here. Registration for this event is FREE for paying members of the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition. If you purchased a Coalition membership between last year’s CSA Summit (Feb. 18, 2021) and now, we will send you a discount code that you can apply in the Summit registration form. Otherwise, purchase or renew your farm membership, and we will send you a discount code once your membership purchase is processed.
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AGENDA***
I. Welcome
II. Breakout Session #1: Farmer-Led Learning Circles
- Growing for food access & fundraising for solidarity shares
- Member engagement and retention
- Farmer housing
III. Workplace CSA panel and presentation
IV. Breakout Session #2: Farmer-Led Learning Circles
- Small grains and staples focus group
- Labor recruitment and retention
- Collaborative crop planning/aggregation
V. Coalition Annual Report: Year in Review and Priorities for 2022 (Kate Anstreicher, Michelle Hughes and Megan Larmer)
VI. Keynote presentation: Finding Our Balance in the Face of Change: The Resilience of Regional Networks. Keynote speaker and Glynwood Director of Agriculture Laura Lengnick will talk about farm resiliency thinking and the resilience benefits of grower networks such as the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition.
VII. Closing
***Order of events/organization of peer learning circles subject to change
Thank you to our Lead Event Sponsor, Farm Credit East.
