2026 Rochester Urban Ag Conference: Future of Local Food Thrives
TL;DR: Rochester’s Urban Agriculture Conference showcased community-driven local food solutions, integrating practical skills, policy, and resident leadership.
- Community collaboration drives resilient urban food systems.
- Workshops covered diverse practical growing techniques.
- Policy and community leadership strengthen food access.
- Urban agriculture cultivates dignity and possibility.
- Local solutions are strongest, resident-guided, and equitable.
Why it matters: This conference exemplifies how combining hands-on knowledge with policy and community engagement fosters robust, equitable local food systems, offering a replicable model for other regions.
Do this next: Research local urban agriculture initiatives or food policy councils in your area and explore how to get involved.
Recommended for: Urban growers, community organizers, policymakers, and food system advocates interested in building equitable and resilient local food economies.
The 2026 Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference, held on March 21st at East High School, brought together a sold-out crowd of growers, educators, advocates, and community members for a full day of learning, connection, and hands-on skills-building focused on advancing a more just and resilient local food system. The conference featured 12 interactive workshops covering practical urban agriculture techniques including Haudenosaunee Three Sisters Gardening, vertical growing techniques, irrigation systems for small-scale growers, berry production, seed saving, permaculture and tiny food forests, soil health management, and worm bin composting. A keynote speaker emphasized that "urban ag isn't just about growing food; it's about growing power, dignity, and possibility in places that have too often been overlooked," highlighting how Rochester's soil tells a story of resilience. The Rochester Food Policy Council facilitated sessions exploring the Rochester Community Food System Plan, with draft recommendations and identified actions to strengthen food access, health, and resilience across city neighborhoods. The Council, created in 2021, functions as a community-driven advisory body of resident leaders and partners including Common Ground Health, Foodlink, and the City of Rochester, focused on making the local food system more equitable, sustainable, and accessible. The conference modeled an integrated approach where resident leadership, practical know-how, and policy momentum work together, with organizers emphasizing that "solutions are strongest when they are rooted locally, guided by residents, and grounded in equity." The event was brought to life by the Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group with support from the Rochester Food Policy Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District, Taproot Collective, and Wegmans. Lunch was provided by Shahrazad Catering, and the conference included Fruition's Gift of Seed Experience, gardening tables and displays, and community knowledge sharing sessions. The conference demonstrated how policy and practice must move together for real change, with the underlying message that the work being done "matters—not just for today's harvest, but for future generations who deserve a food system that nourishes both body and community."