Working on the Ground for Change

We're identifying the opportunities and barriers in our demonstration projects to sustain local farms, increase access to local food, promote smart growth and strengthen regional food systems.

A Fresh Outlook at the Urban-Rural Interface in New Jersey

Burlington County, New Jersey, has one of the state’s strongest agricultural economies, along with a nationally recognized farmland preservation program.  Our team of experts is helping the county’s farmland preservation program turn the challenges of high land values and conflicts at the urban-rural interface into opportunities for direct marketing, value-added products and a vibrant local food and farming system.

San Francisco Foodshed Assessment

Our San Francisco Foodshed Assessment, Think Globally – Eat Locally, examines the challenges and opportunities for production and consumption of local food in the nation’s most abundant foodshed. The report includes recommendations on how San Francisco and neighboring communities can take better advantage of food grown in the region.

Urban Rural Roundtable

In San Francisco, a blue ribbon committee of city and agricultural leaders convened by Mayor Gavin Newsom outlined five important steps the mayor should take to encourage greater production and consumption of sustainably grown local food. The five initiatives were selected from dozens proposed and debated during a year-long process organized by Roots of Change, American Farmland Trust and other local leaders.

Giving Local Officials a Hand

Our regional staff in Connecticut is providing technical assistance to six communities to help them create plans to support local farms and farmland. As part of this effort, we are helping them implement strategies discussed in the new Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities. Also see:
- Farmland Information Center: Connecticut
- Our Publications


Demonstrating Best Practices

A busload of farm and farmland advocates from across New England recently traveled to agricultural areas in Suffolk County, New York. On the east end of Long Island, Suffolk was the first county in America to protect farmland with conservation easements. Our bus tour gave participants a chance to learn first-hand about a region that has more than 30 years of experience of protecting farmland and promoting local farm viability.

Educating Stakeholders

More than 200 participants representing 45 counties across New York gathered at American Farmland Trust’s Growing New York conference to learn about how to protect farmland and promote the business of agriculture at the local level. Conference participants included town officials, county extension educators, county planners and nonprofit leaders.

Protection vs. Development in Massachusetts

Our New England staff presented at the 2009 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference in Worcester.  The workshop reviewed Cost of Community Services studies and protection v. development scenarios.  AFT provided updates on current farmland protection tools and explored potential new state and local tools.