Purpose

The Northeast Farm to Institution Summit strengthens the regional food system by celebrating and supporting the role of institutions as anchors in the region. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders in a collaborative process, the summit generates ideas and connections that advance the ability of the Northeast to support viable farm, food, and sea businesses and healthy, just communities. The Summit welcomes both newcomers and pioneers on the forefront of the farm to institution movement to share their work, make connections, generate energy, and co-create strategies for addressing the most pressing challenges for our regional food system. See prior summits.

Audience

Since the first gathering in 2015, the Northeast Farm to Institution Summit has become a seminal event for communities working to transform our regional food system in partnership with schools, hospitals, colleges, correctional facilities, and other institutions. More than 500 participants typically attend, including but certainly not limited to; food service operators, producers, supply chain businesses, advocates, public officials, educators, and students, and others dedicated to this work. We are intentionally working to welcome Black, Indigenous, and people of color, middle of the supply chain actors, community colleges, and our neighbors and collaborators in New York and across the country. Since this year's summit is a hybrid event, we recognize that the virtual component may bring in more people from a wide array of geographic locations and backgrounds, and that the in-person event will be smaller than previous years due to space and safety considerations.