Embedded Files
The goal of the North Shore Farm and Food Coalition (NSFFC) is to build collaboration among food, farming, educational, and municipal partners to help identify and develop regional opportunities and actions for expanded food production capacity, increased local food security, and reduced carbon emissions.
Our Call to Action
Our Call to Action
Massachusetts' North Shore communities desire increased availability of fresh, locally grown food that is accessible and affordable to all residents while providing a fair standard of living to the farmers.
Enhanced coordinated efforts between stakeholders within the North Shore food system can serve as a bridge between communities.
A coordinated approach could bring more farmland into production, stem the loss of existing farmland, explore new growing opportunities, and support consistent zoning laws, agricultural overlay districts, and municipal policies that are conducive to increasing urban and localized food production across the region.
More localized urban agriculture production can meet the needs of residents to grow food closer to where they live, adopt emerging and innovative production practices, produce culturally preferred crops, expose young people to potential careers in agriculture, and build food security and resilience in the face of climate change and future supply chain disruptions. Learn more about the why local food matters.
The Planning Project
The Planning Project
The coalition was initially formed in 2022 with funding support through 2024 from a USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Planning Project Grant (awarded to Green Beverly and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project). During this stage, our efforts were primarily focused on five densely populated urban communities on the North Shore: Beverly, Peabody, Salem, Danvers, and Lynn.
Our work was guided by three broad objectives:
Examine urban agriculture and local food production across the North Shore communities to identify opportunities and challenges to expanding Urban Agriculture.
Identify and integrate key stakeholders in the urban agriculture planning and feasibility assessment process.
Develop opportunities for urban agriculture and local food production projects for targeted residents and neighborhoods.
Our Growing Coalition
Our Growing Coalition
While connection and collaboration is foundational to this work, the "official" structure of the North Shore Farm and Food Coalition is still taking shape. Leading the way is a core group of dedicated individuals offering their time, expertise, and ideas to help drive these efforts.
Many of our current members are affiliated or connected with the food, farming, educational, and municipal organizations highlighted below. If you or your organization would like to get involved or learn more, let us know!
Collaborating organizations
Collaborating organizations
Networking Beyond the north Shore
Networking Beyond the north Shore
The last thing we're looking to do is reinvent the wheel. As our coalition develops, we welcome the opportunity to learn from and align efforts with others engaged in food systems work around the state and beyond. The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative has been a key faciliator on this front, especially the Local Food Policy Council Network.
Page updated
Report abuse