Create bold breakthroughs that shape the future of good food.
We honor all identities and perspectives with dignity.
We turn ideas into long-lasting solutions.
We incorporate diverse voices and ideas.
A food system is an integrated network that moves food from farms to tables in a specific, defined area, like New York State. It connects farmers with markets, retailers, and shoppers, and determines the food that is grown, how much it costs, and where it is sold. The food system, like any system, is built on the quality of its components and the strength of the connections between them. When any part of the food system is out of balance, it can make good food harder to grow, find, and afford.
The ripple effects of food system imbalances are often felt most by those at the very beginning or end of the chain: the farmer and the SNAP recipient. Farmers may struggle to earn a fair price for their products or find viable markets to sell to, while low-income families face limited choices at the grocery store and higher prices. A responsive food system is one that recognizes and considers all parts of the end-to-end experience, and the real-world impacts of any disruptions. The goal of creating a more responsive food system is to help sustain agriculture entrepreneurs while making nutritious food affordable and accessible for everyone.
Our work lives at the intersection of food security, sustainable agriculture development, nutrition education, and community health. We don’t distribute food directly. Instead, we make it easier for families of lower income using SNAP to buy more fresh, local produce through programs like Double Up Food Bucks NY. By doing this, we support farmers, strengthen local economies, and help families stretch their food dollars further, creating a more resilient food system for everyone.
The beginnings that shaped how we grow change today started in 2009.
What began as a series of community dinners and conferences in Western New York has grown into a statewide movement to transform food access and economic opportunities.
Our early years focused on connecting farmers, chefs, and food advocates to spark conversation and fuel understanding about food access challenges across the region. Over time, those gatherings became programs. Programs became partnerships. And partnerships became policy-shifting models for stronger food systems, community resilience, nutrition education, and economic development.
Today, Field & Fork Network leads one of the most impactful nutrition incentive programs in the country, Double Up Food Bucks NY, and partners with farmers, markets, grocery stores, retailers, educators, and advocates to eliminate barriers to fresh, affordable food through a variety of initiatives.
We’re creating a future where fair access to good food is the norm, not the exception.
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