Foodshed Alliance

The Foodshed Alliance began in 2001 with a bold vision: to build a future where our farms thrive, our communities are nourished, and our land is protected. What started as a small program at Genesis Farm has grown into a movement—one that continues to shape the food and farming landscape across New Jersey.

In those early days, it was just a handful of volunteers with a simple conviction: that the food we eat, the health of our families, and the strength of our communities are inseparable from the health of the land. That conviction guided us as we became an independent nonprofit, and it still drives us today.

Over the years, we’ve seen what happens when people come together around food. We’ve seen it at the Blairstown Farmers’ Market, where neighbors connect with the farmers who grow their food and millions of dollars have flowed back into our local economy. We’ve seen it through LocalShare, where surplus food from local farms is rescued by volunteers and shared with families who need it most—nearly half a million pounds of fresh, healthy produce, food that would have otherwise gone to waste.

We’ve seen it in the faces of new farmers—given a foothold through long-term leases on preserved farmland. With stability and support, they’re able to invest in the soil, grow their businesses, and keep farming alive for the next generation.

And we’ve seen it in our partnerships—conservationists, chefs, social service agencies, volunteers, and everyday people—each playing a role in building a food system that is fairer, healthier, and more resilient.

This is the story of the Foodshed Alliance. A story of neighbors sharing meals. Of farmers caring for the land. Of communities standing up for one another.