Show Up Ready to Learn. Leave Ready to Lead.
The future of our communities’ health lies in strengthening local food systems that nourish families, stimulate local economies, and restore dignity to people impacted by hunger. Healthy communities don’t have healthy food by chance. They depend on individual people coming together across neighborhoods, backgrounds, industries, professions, and perspectives. That’s you. That’s us. And that’s exactly why we’re getting the sector together this November.
The Growing Stronger Communities Conference connects farmers who steward the land, healthcare leaders who recognize food as medicine, organizations that connect neighbors with fresh, local food, educators who prepare the next generation, and communities that come together to create lasting solutions for healthy communities. Changemakers from across the country will gather in Raleigh, North Carolina, from November 4-6 to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore practical strategies for building healthier, more resilient local food systems. You’ll leave equipped with practical tools, proven models, and actionable strategies. Whether you’re launching a community garden, expanding farm operations, strengthening farmer procurement, developing Food Is Medicine initiatives, or building community-led growing programs, you’ll take home ideas you can put into practice immediately.
Get a First Look at This Year’s Sessions:
We’re excited to announce that breakout session previews are now available, offering a first look at the conversations shaping this year’s conference. Attendees will have a chance to explore multiple breakout sessions across three conference tracks:
- Scale Solutions: Learn how to strengthen agriculture programs through smarter infrastructure, staffing, land strategy, volunteer engagement, crop planning, and food bank operations.
- Improve Health: Discover innovative approaches connecting agriculture and healthcare through Food Is Medicine, produce prescriptions, clinical partnerships, nutrition education, and measurable health outcomes.
- Return Voice: Explore community-centered models that prioritize trust, culturally connected foods, land access, fair farmer partnerships, and neighbor-led solutions that create lasting change.
Speaker announcements, full session descriptions, and additional conference details will continue to be released throughout the summer, so this is just the beginning. Check out session previews on our schedule page.
What If Your Best Idea Didn’t Have to Wait for Funding?
We’re thrilled to introduce the inaugural Growing Stronger Communities Grant Program, presented by Chiesi USA. Three conference participants will each receive $10,000 implementation grants to help turn their best strategy into measurable community impact even faster with this immediate funding. Grant applications are open now through September 1!
Register Before Early Bird Pricing Ends!
Now is the perfect time to reserve your spot! Early bird registration ends August 1, so don’t miss your chance to join hundreds of leaders working together to build stronger local food systems and stronger communities. Register today and be part of the movement that’s turning ideas into scalable impact.