NESAWG and its members are working in hundreds of ways and arenas --from the marketplace to schools, from land grant universities to legislatures -- to make our regional food and farming system more sustainable, just, and secure.

To realize this vision, NESAWG focuses on:
• Public policy reform and development
• Food systems development and market-based innovation
• Professional training and education
• Accountability on the part of our publicly funded institutions
• Public education
 

Our activities are based on a “systems approach” -- recognizing the interdependence of governmental, market and civic arenas for social change. We work on all fronts. Within this framework, we address:
• Farm economic viability and food system economic development
• Natural resource conservation and enhancement
• Rural and urban community food systems
• Food security, nutrition and food-related health issues
• Food 'citizenship'
 

Below you will find some current and recent examples of NESAWG's activities:

In the area of public policy:
• Northeast Ag Works! is a project that works at the state, regional and federal levels to promote policies that foster regional food systems. With its partners (American Farmland Trust, Conservation Law Foundation, Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship and Northeast Midwest Institute), NESAWG is addressing such key policy issues as food safety inspection, farmland affordability, institutional procurement and integrating agriculture and economic development. Northeast Ag Works! is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

• NESAWG organizes Northeast stakeholders to participate in federal policy development. One key policy opportunity is the federal Farm Bill that encompasses agriculture, forestry, energy, and food and nutrition programs. NESAWG works in collaboration with national and regional partners, and draws from its database of over 3000 contacts to bring a Northeast voice to federal policy, and to assure that Northeast farmers and others make optimal use of federal programs.
• With partners, NESAWG hosted a gathering of state legislators and grassroots groups to learn about food policy councils.

• NESAWG joined with a member organization, the Hartford Food System to compile model state policies in the areas of farm viability, market development, farmland preservation and conservation. Our investigation also solicited recommendations to enhance programs, and ideas for innovative new policies.


In the area of food systems development:
• NESAWG and its members focus on a range of topics to strengthen our region’s food system. Community based food systems, rural development, agricultural cooperatives, market development, value-added production, processing, farm lending, new farmer development, farm business development and innovation are some priorities for the Northeast

• In collaboration with NESAWG members, NESAWG produced a feasibility study with business scenarios for a state-wide buy local program for Connecticut. It contains information useful to other groups considering program feasibility.

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) originated in this country in the Northeast, and there are more CSA farms in our region than in any other. NESAWG led a four-year project to strengthen the CSA movement in the Northeast and nationally. We held three CSA conferences, sponsored two research projects, designed a national CSA farm directory. We helped launch the Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources.

• NESAWG provided mini-grants to eight communities to hold community food system meetings. These meetings drew representatives from various sectors, including farmers, nutrition professionals, economic development practitioners and others. Together, they set the groundwork for ongoing collaboration around identified needs.


In the area of professional development
• NESAWG fostered the development of buy local and farm-to-institution programs by training Extension and other agriculture professionals to help develop these programs in their communities. This project was funded by Northeast SARE, in partnership with the Community Food Security Coalition and FoodRoutes Network.

• NESAWG trained twenty-four agriculture economic development practitioners from 12 Northeast states. Strengthening ag development as an economic development activity is critical in our highly urbanized region.


In working with our publicly funded institutions:
• In 1998, Congress passed a law to encourage broader and more transparent roles for stakeholders in the Land Grant university system. The rule requires institutions to solicit and consider stakeholder input. NESAWG investigated how our region’s Land Grant institutions are responding to the rule, and suggested ways to strengthen stakeholder- institution engagement. See the Stakeholder report.


In the area of public education:
• NESAWG publications educate the public about our food system and encourage active involvement. Northeast Farms to Food: Understanding Our Region's Food System and the 2004 and 2006 Updates are NESAWG's recent publications offering a wealth of information about the Northeast food and agriculture system.

• A "buy local" message with NESAWG information appeared on 1 million Cabot Creamery butter boxes -- listing reasons to support local agriculture. NESAWG-created radio spots about food security and to support buy local campaigns help local groups broadcast their messages.

• Outreach tools such as our 530-subscriber listserv, website, database, and annual events bring citizens as well as food and agriculture professionals into dialogue and sharing. NESAWG staff offer presentations, host meetings and serve on panels on a wide range of food system issues.

• NESAWG sponsors opportunities for citizen engagement such as the Citizens Panel on the Future of the New England Food System, with the University of New Hampshire's Office of Sustainability Programs. NESAWG disseminates information on topics such as agricultural biotechnology, the national organic certification program, food safety, dairy policy, farmland preservation, and nutrition issues.