SOFSA Blog
2022-2023 Policy Platform
Over the course of several months, SOFSA's Policy & Planning Committee, Policy Intern, and SOFSA's Equity, Inclusion, and Accountability Committee worked to co-create a Policy Platform that reflects the interests of SOFSA's diverse body of membership, while...
SOFSA Site Visit: Central New York Regional Market Authority
The Central New York Regional Market Authority (CNYRMA) is a diverse and unique local food system resource, and has long been a staple for residents of Onondaga County and beyond. The Market has been open since 1938 and consists of five “sheds” packed with over 300...
Meet Ellen Pitstick
We are happy to introduce Ellen Pitstick (they/them), our Program Evaluation & Public Policy Intern! Ellen is from the Chicago suburbs and attended Denison University for undergrad where they studied Anthropology/Sociology and Math. During this time they...
Joint ReZone Letter from FAHNN & SOFSA
As a follow up to its August 2022 ReZone Letter, SOFSA worked closely with Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now (FAHNN) to elevate specific concerns within the draft zoning ordinance that could potentially harm potential food retail locations including the parcel at Valley Plaza.
Meet Chloe Cabrera
Meet Chloe Cabrera (she/her), SOFSA’s new Outreach Coordinator for Double Up Food Bucks! Chloe started at the beginning of November and will be supporting SOFSA’s efforts to facilitate and expand the implementation of Double Up Food Bucks in Syracuse, as well as...
2022 Candidate Policy Positions
Policy-makers play a key role in uplifting our local food system so that it works for all people in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation. Through a survey, SOFSA asked this year’s election candidates about how they support a healthy Central New York food...
SOFSA Letter Supporting Implementation of ReZone Syracuse
On August 2nd, 2022, SOFSA submitted the letter below to Syracuse city officials requesting their swift action to implement new zoning ordinances for the city. ReZone Syracuse has been a project of the city's Planning Division in collaboration with other city...
NY State Program Supports Restaurants & Families in Onondaga County
Like many places across the country, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were heavily felt throughout Central New York's food system. Particularly impacted were producers of dairy and vegetables who distributed to school systems and restaurants; as well as restaurants...
SOFSA’s Statement of Solidarity in Response to the 2022 Buffalo Tops Massacre
To the Buffalo food system of consumers, cooks, producers, shoppers, retailers, producers, distributors, and everyone in between: We at the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) send our care and love and condolences to the Buffalo community that lost family...
Lender Symposium: Centering Food Justice in Food Systems Transformation and Honoring the Legacy of Evan Weissman
Lender Faculty Fellow Jonnell Robinson and Lender Student Fellows Shiori Green, Taylor Krzeminski, Phoebe Ambrose, Nicky Kim, and Avalon Gupta VerWiebe participated in the second annual Lender Symposium on Thursday, March 31st 2022. They were joined by SOFSA...