A sold-out crowd of growers, educators, advocates, and neighbors from across the region gathered at East High School on Saturday, March 21st for the 2026 Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference—a full day of learning, connection, and hands-on skills-building to advance a more just, resilient local food system.
Opening remarks from Josie McClary, a member of the Rochester Food Policy Council and Monroe County’s Chief Community Engagement Officer, grounded the day in community wisdom. “As a member of the Rochester Food Policy Council, you don’t walk into this space just to learn—you walk in carrying the stories, needs, and hopes of a city that knows both scarcity and abundance,” she said. “Urban ag isn’t just about growing food; it’s about growing power, dignity, and possibility in places that have too often been overlooked.” McClary reminded participants that “Rochester’s soil tells a story of resilience,” and that “policy and practice must move together—real change happens when community voices lead.” Her charge: “Let this space inspire you but also trust what you already know: solutions are strongest when they are rooted locally, guided by residents, and grounded in equity… SO YES! You belong in this room.”
That welcoming spirit was visible throughout the day as babies strapped to their parents’ chests feasted their eyes on the offerings, young professionals swapped tips with retirees, and urban growers from all corners of the city learned from the presenters and each other. Lunch came from Shahrazad Catering, a local business whose owner, Hiba, is a mother of three and a chef who brings the flavors and hospitality of southern Iraq to Rochester. Her story—rebuilding through food—mirrored the conference’s belief that food can be a bridge to a stronger community.
Across three workshop blocks, attendees dove into practical skills and systems change with sessions focused on Haudenosaunee Three Sisters Gardening; small space and vertical techniques; irrigation for small-scale growers; berry production; seed saving and participatory breeding; permaculture and tiny food forests; soil health; worm bin composting; sustaining school gardens; and a candid conversation on land access for new farmers.
A session from the Rochester Food Policy Council session was facilitated by Common Ground Health’s Director of Whole Child Health Advocacy Mike Bulger, Food Policy Coordinator Candice Williams, and Council member Rachel Campbell. Together they explained the Rochester Community Food System Plan, explored draft recommendations and identified short, medium, and long-term actions to strengthen food access, health, and resilience across city neighborhoods. The Council, created in 2021, is a community-driven advisory body of resident leaders and partners (including Common Ground Health, Foodlink, and the City of Rochester) focused on making the local food system more equitable, sustainable, and accessible.
The day closed with Fruition Seeds’ Gift of Seed experience, led by cofounder Petra Page-Mann. It was a reflective, joyful two-hour gathering with singing, intention-setting, and the generous sharing of regionally adapted seeds. Participants were invited to practice “receiving beyond transaction,” leaving with seeds—and a renewed sense of community abundance.
Brought to life by the Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group with support from the Rochester Food Policy Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District, Taproot Collective, and Wegmans, the conference modeled what happens when resident leadership, practical know‑how, and policy momentum move together. Or, as McClary put it: the work we do now “matters—not just for today’s harvest, but for future generations who deserve a food system that nourishes both body and community.”