Wednesday, November 4 – Friday, November 6, 2026
The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport
Raleigh, NC
INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE
From Programs to Power:
Building Nutrition Security Through Local Food Systems
Local food systems are essential infrastructure. The future of America’s communities lies in strengthening local food systems that restore health, stimulate local economies, and return power to the people most impacted by hunger. And that power is tangible: farmers securing stable and fair markets, communities gaining access to land and infrastructure, healthcare systems investing in food as a clinical intervention, and food banks evolving from emergency responders into systems-builders who support long-term resilience and dignity.
CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY
Our Focus
Last year we proved that agriculture isn’t a “nice add-on” to hunger relief—it’s a strategy for long-term nutrition security and community resilience. The first Growing Stronger Communities conference showed the power of treating local food systems as essential infrastructure. A nationwide community came together to explore scalable models for food bank agriculture, Food Is Medicine innovations, land access challenges, culturally rooted food traditions, and the trust-based partnerships that allow farmers and food banks to collaborate effectively.
This year, we shift from idea-gathering to implementation – “from programs to power” – equipping attendees with practical tools, templates, pathways, and commitments you can immediately apply, whether you’re launching a garden, expanding farm operations, building farmer procurement pipelines, or advancing neighbor-led growing initiatives. The goal is not just inspiration, but replication and measurable progress across communities. Join us!
Conference Themes
Scale the System
Operations and Infrastructure
How do we move from small plots to sustainable, high-impact agriculture programs?
This includes land strategy, staffing, volunteer models, climate-resilient infrastructure (high tunnels, irrigation, cold storage), crop planning, and integration with food bank operations.
Improve Health
Food is Medicine + Nutrition Security
How do we strengthen the connection between agriculture and health outcomes?
This includes produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals/groceries, clinical partnerships, reimbursement pathways, culturally responsive nutrition education, and practical measurement frameworks.
Build Power
Trust + Culture + Ownership
How do we ensure this work is led with communities rather than done to communities?
This includes neighbor-led growing models, culturally connected foods, land access/ownership solutions, farmer trust and fair procurement, and advocacy approaches that protect and expand local food systems.
Book your
stay!
The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport
3931 Macaw Street, Raleigh, NC 27617
$249.00 USD per night (Room Block Available Until Wednesday, October 14, 2026)
Join us!
Don’t miss out on this fantastic awareness and networking opportunity to continue empowering those around you to grow stronger communities together!