Is eating local a real possibility in northern NH? Who are the farms of the Mt. Washington Valley and how do we, as individual consumers and a community at large, support them? Join the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust's Jesse Wright and UNH Cooperative Extension's Olivia Saunders May 10, from noon to one pm as they talk about the current local foods landscape here in the Valley, including current efforts to support local farmers and connect these producers with both individual and commercial buyers.

Olivia and Jesse are both founding members of the local collaborative group, the Mt. Washington Valley Eaters & Growers (MWVEG). As the name suggests, MWVEG consists of both farmers and food advocates who are passionate about local food. Their mission is "to strengthen the regional food system through communication, collaboration, and cooperation among our farms and our community." Through their work, they aim to increase the profitability of region's family-scale farms. In turn, this supports open space in a region otherwise prone to development, maintains a working landscape, and protects our cultural and agricultural heritage. All while providing our residents and visitors with fresh, local products!

The presentation will explore the very real presence of agriculture here in the MWV and speak with the group about how each one of us can support our neighborhood farms.

Olivia Saunders works as a Field Specialist in Fruit & Vegetable production in the Food & Agriculture Program at the UNH Cooperative Extension. She also is the NH Sustainable Agriculture coordinator, and a founding member of MWVEG. Olivia works directly with small fruit and vegetable farmers in New Hampshire on issues like pest and soil fertility management, cover cropping, organic production, and challenges associated with new and beginning farming. Olivia also promotes sustainable beekeeping practices to New Hampshire's beekeeping community.

Jesse Wright is the Local Food Systems Advocate at the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust. A MWV native, she joined the Land Trust staff in 2015. She has her BS in Business Administration from Babson College and Master's in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Jesse is an avid rugby enthusiast with a passion for understanding all things agriculture. Her work as the Local Food Systems Advocate aims to increase the awareness and support of local agriculture in the greater MWV and the viability of our region's farms.

The EcoForum lunchtime lecture series is sponsored by The Flatbread Company of North Conway and Frontside Grind Coffee Roasters. EcoForums are free and open to the public and are presented at noon on the second Thursday of each month at the Tin Mountain Nature Learning Center in Albany. The community is urged to attend to learn more about salient issues facing our natural environment and to hear the views of thought-provoking speakers.


Posted 5/6/18