1:00–5:00 PM | Fair & Programming
5:00–6:00 PM | Eat & Greet Mixer
Join us for Elevating Grain, a regional gathering designed to strengthen connections across the grainshed, including stakeholders from production and processing to procurement and policy.
This interactive fair brings together growers, millers, bakers, food producers, institutional buyers, and decision-makers to build relationships, exchange knowledge, and showcase the diversity and potential of using regional and organic grains.
Two interactive skill building workshops will be followed by a panel of experts representing all parts of the supply chain including perspectives on market access and opportunities for regional and organic grain producers. We will wrap up with an “eat and greet” mixer featuring vendor samples and drinks all highlighting local and organic grains allowing attendees to sample potential products they could use in their meal programs and operations.
The event will feature vendors representing mission-aligned producers and organizations, with attendees/buyers from across the regional food system.
Who should attend?
This event is designed for food and farming stakeholders in the Hudson Valley and beyond: school food administrators and staff, food access providers interested or already participating in Nourish NY, NYC and NYS procurement professionals sourcing local and regional products, educators, and the middle supply chain actors including farmers, millers, artisan bakers, and processors.
Additional audiences include policymakers, legislators, and food system technical assistance providers. Variety Showcase participants and grant partners are also encouraged to participate!
Register Now!
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Attendees are invited to participate in all workshops, the panel discussion, marketplace browsing, and the eat and greet mixer.
General admission is $25 and includes access to all programming as well as food and drink sampling. Farmers can attend for free.
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Vendor participation is open to mission-aligned producers and organizations looking to connect with buyers and collaborators. Vendors will have the opportunity to showcase products, build relationships, and engage with participants throughout the afternoon
The vendor fee is $125 and includes an 8ft table and a 6ft backtable, a table cloth and signage. Electricity will be available upon request. Vendors are responsible for obtaining a Certificate of Insurance if handing out food samples. Vendor tables will be set up for the duration of the event in the marketplace area. Vendors are encouraged to actively engage with attendees between workshops and during the closing "eat and greet”, which will serve as the primary networking period.
Agenda
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Attendees can walk a curated trade fair featuring growers and processors of grains, beans, corn, buckwheat, and nuts, alongside farmers, millers, bakers, and value-added producers.
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The two workshops are designed to increase knowledge and practical skills, with a focus on real-world applications in institutional and community settings.
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The panel will focus on strengthening regional grain supply chains, with a focus on institutional procurement pathways, best practices for including local and organic grains in your product mix, and opportunities for regionally produced products.
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The event concludes with a relaxed eat and greet from 5:00–6:00 PM. This informal networking hour will feature samples from participating vendors and drinks, offering time to connect across sectors and continue conversations.
Interested in sponsoring?
Email Zoraida Lopez-Diago for more information or to become a sponsor.
The Grain Fair is made possible by:
Glynwood Grains and Staples
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest New York
Cornell Small Grain Breeding and Genetics
The Rodale Institute
USDA National TOPP
USDA-NIFA-OREI – Value Added Grains for Local and Regional Food Systems
The Anahata Foundation
New York State Education Department
The supply chain panel and eat and greet are supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).