This past growing season brought a slew of challenges to farmers in our region, whether climate volatility, changing consumer preferences, inflation, or worker shortages. This constant state of uncertainty is exhausting, but presents the opportunity for reflection, collaboration, and adaptation for future growing seasons.

The Hudson Valley CSA Coalition’s third annual Summit will provide an opportunity to collectively explore and address these challenges in meaningful ways. Featuring farmer-led learning circles, full group discussion, and opportunities for individual networking, 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 farmer interested in launching a CSA for the first time this season, the Summit will provide you with tools, an active learning space, and most importantly, a peer network.

Join us for a day of peer learning, educational presentations, and community building. The Summit will include refreshments and lunch for all registrants.

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AGENDA***

I. Arrivals and Check-In

II. Welcome & Overview

III. Session #1: Farmer-Led Learning Circles
-Wash/Pack Efficiency for Vegetable CSAs, featuring Chris Callahan (UVM Extension) and Jody Bolluyt (Roxbury Farm)
-Pricing & Marketing Flower Shares, featuring Xenia D'Ambrosi (Sweet Earth Co.) and Diana Cowdery (Diana Mae Flowers)
-Economic Viability in a time of Inflation, featuring Elizabeth Higgins (CCE) and Jarret Nelson (Glynwood)

IV. Session #2: Farmer-Led Learning Circles
-Collective Crop Planning and CSA Aggregation, featuring Tianna Kennedy (The 607 CSA) and Megan Larmer (Glynwood)
-Creating the Best CSA Member Experience, featuring Nichki Carangelo (Letterbox Farm), Katie Speicher (Common Ground Farm), and Mike Parker (GrownBy)
-Building and Maintaining Farm Team Morale, featuring Claudia Kenny (Little Seed Gardens/NY Ag Mediation Program) and Sam Zurofsky (Long Season Farm)

V. Lunch & Sponsorship Presentation

VI. Coalition Annual Report: Year in Review and Priorities for 2022

VI. Closing Panel: Community Supporting Farms: Creating Social Change and Joy Through Farming

VII. Closing

***Order of events/organization of peer learning circles subject to change
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About the Coalition: founded in 2016, the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition is a collaborative effort of CSA farmers in the Hudson Valley who share a common desire to bring the CSA experience to more of their neighbors and community members. The Coalition is facilitated by Glynwood and includes more than 120 growers in the region.

Thank you to our sponsors: Corio Strategies, Farm Credit East, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC), and Farm Generations Coop.