Southcoast Food Policy Council’s 2026 Food Summit:

Growing Together: CARAT Insights + Partner Impacts Across Southeastern MA

This Meeting Took Place on: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Where: Online/Virtual

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Marion Institute’s 2026 Food Summit, Growing Together: CARAT Insights + Partner Impacts Across Southeastern Massachusetts. The gathering brought together food system leaders, community partners, producers, and residents to explore what we are learning through the Community & Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool (CARAT) across six counties. The conversation highlighted shared regional strengths and gaps—including emergency food planning, farm-to-institution programs, farmland access, support for new farmers, natural-resource protection, and food system advocacy—and demonstrated the value of community-led planning.

We also heard from partners advancing two promising regional opportunities: connecting locally harvested seafood with schools through Dock to School programs and helping the next generation of farmers access land, training, funding, infrastructure, and reliable markets. These conversations reinforced that stronger relationships, shared knowledge, and coordinated regional leadership are essential to creating a more connected, equitable, and resilient food system.

Details of the CARAT process, a sneak preview of some of the preliminary results from each of the counties, and a panel discussion with community organizations making an impact building programs focused on:

Dock to School
Supporting New Farmers

Presenters Included:

Shelley Edmundson, Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust – Executive Director
Brett Tolley, Chatham Harvesters – Co-founder and General Manager
Posie Constable, Sustainable Nantucket – Managing Director
Brad Fesmire, Southeastern MA Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) – Community Engagement & Program Director
Moderated by – Liz Wiley, Executive Director of the Marion Institute, and Rita Higgins, CARAT Project Manager

We’re grateful to our county leads, panelists, partners, and attendees for sharing their expertise and helping move this work forward. Below, you’ll find the Food Summit recording, meeting notes, powerpoint, and a brief feedback survey.