CLIMATE SMART COMMODITIES NETWORKING MEETING
Building Resilience with Climate Smart Practices: Reflections from the Partnership for CSC Networking Meeting
by Bea Alvarez - Climate Resilience Specialist
Journey to Hershey – A Sweet Beginning
This past October I had the opportunity to represent our Foodshed team at the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities Networking Meeting in picturesque Hershey, Pennsylvania, famously known as the "Sweetest Place on Earth." The trip from San Diego to Philadelphia was seamless, followed by a scenic two-hour train ride through vibrant fall foliage and sights of dairy and corn farms. Arriving at the Hershey Lodge, the crisp autumn air and beautiful surroundings set the stage for two days of engaging discussions. Hershey, a historic town built on the success of its iconic chocolate factory, reflects its agricultural roots and a legacy of entrepreneurial vision.
Day 1 - Collaborating for Impact
The first day began warmly welcoming all attendees, including representatives from 135 projects nationwide and the USDA staff supporting these initiatives. Our cooperative was selected as one of four case studies to present our marketing incentive approach, where we kick-off the session by sharing the goals and impact of our CSIP Climate-Smart Incentive Program. Our focus on building farm resilience, providing resources to small farms, and creating market channels for local food distribution via institutional buyers and Local Food Procurement programs resonated with the audience and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
The presentation emphasized the importance of partnerships, addressing food insecurity, linking food and health, and the impact of climate-smart agriculture on tackling the climate crisis. It sparked great interest, particularly from projects with similar food hub models focused on small, diversified farms, and climate-smart practices. Despite the initial nerves of public speaking, the session went smoothly, and I was proud to represent the dedicated team at Foodshed driving these efforts forward.
The rest of the day featured breakout groups on key topics such as working with underserved producers, marketing strategies, and MMRV (Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification). We also engaged in discussions and surveys to capture feedback on grant implementation, sharing lessons learned and exploring solutions to common challenges. Notably, food hubs from North Carolina and Hawaii expressed interest in connecting further to share experiences.
Day 2 – New Connections and Climate-Smart Programs Progress
Day two opened with presentations from the National Climate Hubs, offering broader perspectives on climate-smart agriculture practices and the services and resources available for program coordinators, TA, and MMRV partners. With polls and interactive feedback throughout the day, the sessions were engaging and provided real-time insights into program progress. We heard impactful presentations, from dairy grazing apprenticeships to updates on the grant’s second-year outcomes for several projects.
A key highlight came after lunch when our program was selected for a roundtable discussion along with five other projects, with USDA agency leads, Russel Redding Secretary of Agriculture of Pennsylvania, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and wife. The conversation was a powerful reminder that while the road ahead may be long, we are headed in the right direction. The Secretary emphasized the agency’s efforts to improve food security, farmers' livelihood, land accessibility, and the urgent need to address the climate crisis affecting farmers nationwide. It was reassuring to know that our work is aligned with national priorities and that there is a shared commitment to ensuring the success of our farmers and vulnerable communities.
Celebrating Wins and Looking Ahead
The meeting wrapped up with inspiring speeches from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, celebrating the progress made thus far and reaffirming the importance of continued resilience-building efforts. In the final section of the gathering, all projects had the opportunity to showcase their climate-smart initiatives in an expo-style setting, where we saw a wide range of programs, products, and technologies designed to improve soil health and support farmers with incentives for climate-smart practices implementation.
As I headed back home, I carried with me a renewed sense of hope and motivation, inspired by the connections made and the shared commitment to building new support systems. The gathering highlighted that, while challenges remain, the partnerships we’ve built and the lessons we are learning from will continue to drive our collective mission forward: to create resilient food systems that can thrive in the face of climate change and provide healthy, affordable food for all.