Need help with food? Visit the Food Bank of CNY, or call 211
About SOFSA
SOFSA is a network of food system stakeholders and a catalyst for change.
Our mission is to strengthen our food system so that it works for all people in Syracuse and Onondaga County. We bring communities together to foster relationships, develop projects, align resources, and advocate for policies to improve the health of our neighbors and our environment.
Established in 2019, the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) is an independent food council in Central New York serving the city of Syracuse and surrounding Onondaga County.
The overarching goal of the SOFSA partnership is to serve as both a network of food system stakeholders as well as a catalyst for collaboration among diverse partners. SOFSA engages across sectors to advance projects, build linkages, and foster relationships that enhance the livelihoods of all partners. The partnership aims to ensure the long-term viability and vitality of the region’s agricultural sector while simultaneously increasing access to healthy food and reducing the prevalence of food insecurity within the county.
Learn more about SOFSA:
SOFSA Advisory Board

Brandy Colebrook
Agriculture Program Director,
Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment(RISE)

LaToya Jones
Nurse & Regional Healthcare Organizer
Healthcare Education Project Syracuse

David Knapp
Chairman, Onondaga County Legislature
Co-Chair, Onondaga Agriculture Council

Christina Hudson Kohler
Hudson Egg Farms

Jessi Lyons
Farm Coordinator,
Brady Farm

Peter Ricardo
Product Donations Manager,
Food Bank of Central New York

Jonnell Robinson
Associate Professor of Geography, Syracuse University; Advisory Board Member, Syracuse Grows

Rachel Viens
Director of Food & Nutrition Services,
Syracuse City School District

Curtis Waterman
Natural Resources Subsistence Manager
Onondaga Nation Farm
SOFSA Staff

Maura Ackerman
Facilitator

Steve Ali
Project Coordinator
SOFSA Members
PRODUCTION
- Brady Farm
- Hudson Egg Farms
- Jubilee Homes Southwest Community Learning Farm
- Onondaga Earth Corps
- Onondaga Nation Farm
- Refugee and Immigrant Self- Empowerment (RISE) Syracuse
- Salt City Harvest Farm
MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION
- Brady Market
- CNY Regional Market Authority
- Farm to Fork 101
- Food Bank of Central New York
- Salt City Market (Allyn Family Foundation)
- Syracuse Cooperative Market
- Syracuse City School District Food & Nutrition Services
GOVERNMENT
- Onondaga County Agriculture Council
- Onondaga County Health Department
- Onondaga County Legislature
- Onondaga County Soil & Water District
- Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
HEALTHCARE & HIGHER ED
- St. Joseph’s Health
- SUNY – ESF
- Syracuse University – Nutrition & Food Studies
- Syracuse University – Community Geography
- Upstate Medical University
NONPROFIT
- American Heart Association
- CenterState CEO
- Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Farm Bureau of Onondaga County
- Greater Syracuse H.O.P.E.
- Healthcare Education Project
- HealtheConnections
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – NY
- Syracuse Grows
- Transforming Communities Initiative Syracuse
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER?
Remembering Evan Weissman (1978–2020)
Advocate, Educator, Justice-Seeker
Get involved, make your voice heard
JOIN US
Participate in building a better food system
TALK TO US
Share your experiences and vision for the future
SUPPORT US
Fund our collaboration