Food systems, which include everything from the soil our food is grown in to the plate it reaches and beyond, are central to our communities. They employ countless people, shape local economies, and touch every aspect of daily life, because everybody eats.
At CRAFT, we put community at the center of our work, pursuing regional food systems that value the people who live, work, and eat within them. Vibrant regions are made up of vibrant communities.
We aim to build a transformative food system in our region by working alongside community members, intentionally filling gaps where we can add value, and supporting others doing complementary work.
Our work is organized into four program areas:
Democratizing Food System Information
Place-Based Food Economy Support
Thought Leadership and Partnership
Praxis Lab
Across these areas, we take on projects that harness the power of communities to drive change as eaters, food professionals, and food system practitioners. Many people participate in multiple roles: eaters can be professionals, and professionals can be practitioners. Making our work as interconnected as the food systems we seek to transform.
We engage students at every step, serving as a training ground for the next generation of food system leaders.
Food systems, which encompass everything that happens from the soil our food is grown in until it reaches our plate and is ultimately disposed of, are the central institutions of our communities, not only because of the number of people the industry employs, but also because of the central role that food plays in our daily lives.
