UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Food System Forum, October 28th, 2025

The Tompkins Food System Forum is an ongoing series focused on:

Bringing people together so that the whole system becomes more connected
Building and strengthening trusting relationshipsIdentifying common ground
Sharing experiences, information, and resources to support each other's work
Strengthening our capacity to collaborate
Turning ideas into actions

Registration is required. Stipends are available to support attendance. See further details below.

The Fall Forum program will begin at 8:45am and will include:

Time and space to connect with others and share nourishing meals
Relationship building opportunities to sustain ourselves, our connections, and our work
Youth and farmer panels focused on success stories, collaborative food system solutions, and strengthening community agency
Facilitated action planning breakout sessions
Storytelling, collective reflection, and space for planning to encourage collective future actions

The following breakout sessions will take place in the afternoon from 1:20 - 2:40pm:

Farming for the Future: Adapting to Climate Chaos and Building Food System Equity
Standing in Solidarity with Immigrant Communities in Challenging Times
Creating a Vibrant ReUse Economy in Our Local Food System
Mobilizing Resources for Farms & Food Access
Take Action & Choose Your Own Advocacy Adventure

For transportation support email: katie.hallas@foodbankst.org

This event is free thanks to generous support from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

Previous Events

Food System Summit: Moving Forward Together, Sept. 2022

A celebratory learning and networking event was held on Tuesday, September 27th at 5pm at the Stewart Park large pavilion. Following a brief overview of the Tompkins County food system plan: a roadmap for our food future, speakers from the following organizations shared a 5-minute presentation on their work in the food system:

Cayuga Health Partners
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County

Cornell Small Farms
Food Policy Council
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Food Policy Council of Tompkins County
Groundswell

Headwater
Harvest NY
Ithaca Farmers Market
Shelterbelt Farm
The Learning Farm
Tompkins County Legislature
Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management
Youth Farm Project

Fall Food System Gathering, September 2021

A free community event was held at the Ithaca Farmers Market on September 29, 2021 where we shared what we learned over the past year of listening, learning, and working to better understand our local food system. We shared results of the Tompkins County Food System Baseline Assessment, gathering input for ideas for the future, and shared a meal together.

Kick Off Gathering, February 2020

A free community event was held at the Tompkins County Public Library in February, 2020 with over 100 attendees. Ideas were collected to inform the planning process. A summary of feedback from community members can be read here.