Fri, Mar 13
|Foundation House
Northeast Food Systems Forum
Connect with regional food leaders working to transform our food system. THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY AND IS NO LONGER TAKING REGISTRATIONS.
Time and Location
Mar 13, 2026, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Foundation House, 124 Old Mill Rd, Greenwich, CT 06831, USA
About the Event
The event is currently at capacity. Join our mailing list to stay up to date on future events.
Hosted by Foundation House in collaboration with Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming and The Foodshed Network
Join the Movement to Transform Our Regional Food System
The Northeast is at a critical crossroads. While our region boasts incredible agricultural heritage and innovative food entrepreneurs, we face urgent challenges: farmers struggling to stay on the land, communities lacking access to fresh, healthy food, and climate change threatening our ability to grow food for future generations.
What to Expect
Hear from Kathleen Finlay of Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in a keynote that will set the stage for meaningful dialogue and action. Then dive into collaborative breakout sessions designed to surface insights, identify partnership opportunities, and co-create actionable pathways toward a more just, connected, and regenerative regional food system.
Why Attend?
Whether you're farming 5 acres or feeding 5,000 people, managing a food hub or crafting policy, you'll find your people here. Connect with regional leaders who share your commitment to sustainability, equity, and regeneration. Walk away with actionable strategies, unexpected partnerships, and renewed inspiration to tackle the challenges ahead.
The food system we need won't build itself. It will be built by people like you: working together, sharing knowledge, and refusing to go it alone.
Agenda
8:30 AM
Arrivals & Light Breakfast
9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks by Richard Zimmerman
Keynote by Kathleen Finlay
10:10 AM
Breakout Groups & Outcome Discussions led by Glynwood and The Foodshed Network
Closing Remarks
11:30 AM
Optional Light Brunch & Networking
12:30 PM
Event Concludes
* subject to update
Speakers & Facilitators
Kathleen Finlay
President, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming
Ali Ghiorse
Founder & Executive Director, The Foodshed Network
* subject to update
Who's in the Room
*The RSVP list will be updated on an ongoing basis. If you prefer to keep your name private, contact Jaclyn at jaclynl@foundationhousect.org
Geoffrey Anderson, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich of Greenwich
Jess Anderson, The Foodshed Network | Engagement at Uncorrelated Alts
Holley Atkinson, Northwest Corner Farm
Joshua Bardfield, Sky High Farm
Amari Brantley, End Hunger CT!
Joan Briggs, Trove Family Office
Alison Cohen, National Right to Food Community of Practice
Nancy Coughlin, Person to Person
Sarah Davidson, JM Kaplan Fund
Christian Duborg, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity (CWCSEO)
Kathleen Finlay, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming
Howard Fischer, Gratitude Railroad
Sean Fitzpatrick, Real Food CT
Murray Gates, Artza Mendi Farm | Small Business Development Center
Ali Ghiorse, The Foodshed Network
Renee Giroux, NW CT Food Hub
Meg Hadley Zimmerman, End Hunger CT!
Sara Hinkle, Towanda Foundation
Lisa Holmes, The Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation
Soraya Hosni, Clever Harvest
Meg Hourigan
Kerry Jedd, Kalenauskas Farm
Michael Jedd, Kalenauskas Farm
Rachel Khanna, Town of Greenwich
Andrés Lapadula, Filling in the Blanks
Sarah Lopez, Senator Murphy’s Office
Zoraida Lopez, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming
Aaron McCool, Steadfast Farms
Jared McCool, Steadfast Farms
Julianne Ortega Schrader, HV Farm Hub
Diego Osses, Green Village Initiative
Carol Pickering, Dietel Pickering & Partners
Stephen Plumlee, NW CT Food Hub
Malana Rogers-Bursen, Wesleyan Bailey College of the Environment
Howard Rosenfeld, The Farmer’s Table
Jennifer Rothman, Yellow Farmhouse Education Center
Lutonya Russell-Humes, Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Elizabeth Ryan, Breezy Hill Orchard | Stone Ridge Orchard
Karen Saggese, Food Rescue US - Fairfield County
Sarah A. Salem, Hudson Valley Food Systems Coalition
Rachel Schneider, Institute for Mindful Agriculture
Stephen Schneider, Institute for Mindful Agriculture
Saquana Seltzer, High Silo Farm, LLC
Diane Shenberger, CT Academy & Nutrition
Kariny Silva, City of Stamford Department of Health and Human Services
Karen Simons, Hudson Varick Resources
Debbie Sims, East End NRZ Market & Cafe/Mt. Growmore
Karen A. Soares-Robinson, East End NRZ Market & Cafe
Charles Wade, Fullerfield Capital
Olivia Watkins, Black Farmer Fund
Sarah Workneh, Sky High Farm