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A study by researchers from the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute gauges how an initiative in New York’s Hudson Valley is helping farmers and community organizations build more equitable regional food systems and advance food sovereignty, a movement focused on local control over food systems and fair conditions for both producers and consumers.
For the study, CUNY SPH doctoral student Rachel Dannefer, Institute Director of Evaluation Katy Tomaino Fraser, and Associate Professor Nevin Cohen evaluated the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming’s Food Sovereignty Fund, which gives farmers upfront payment and fair compensation for sustainably grown, culturally appropriate foods while supplying food access organizations that serve clients with dignity. The researchers found that this model increases participating farmers’ income and productivity, strengthens relationships between producers and community groups, and improves residents’ ability to get healthy and culturally significant food.
“Funders and policymakers need to move beyond short‑term, project‑based fixes and instead invest in long‑term, community‑led strategies that give farmers, community partners, and residents a stronger voice in shaping the region’s food system,” says Dannefer.
