South Jersey Famers’ Equity and Sustainability Team
(SJ FEAST)
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About
Funded by a 2024 USDA Regional Food System Partnership grant to Pinelands Preservation Alliance, SJ FEAST aims to expand market access and opportunities for South Jersey Farmers. It will create a marketing and promotion program for the SJ agricultural sector, and support stakeholders in the region to work together as an “AgriCluster” to develop a strategic work plan for their highest priorities, using the ACRE facilitation process. Learn more about the ACRE process for AgriClusters, here.
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Join SJ FEAST
Curious to learn more or want to engage? Email Jonathan Wetstein at Pinelands Preservation Alliance to learn about the SJ FEAST Steering Committee and other ways to get involved.
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South Jersey Producer Survey
The South Jersey Producer Survey aims to identify the current producer -to - market connections in South Jersey's agriculture sector and gauge producers’ interest in joining regional farmer collectives or a farmer-led food hub.
“Ask an Expert” Speakers Series
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Join our free webinar series featuring conversations and Q&A with experts in multiple aspects of the food system.
Each event is open to all South Jersey farmers and local food system stakeholders. If you are interested in participating and are from outside of the southern eight counties of South Jersey, please contact Jonathan Wetstein at Jonathan@pinelandsalliance.org.
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Tuesday, August 26th from 5 - 6:15 PM
James Klett, Fairgrown Farms
Aggregating From Other Local Farmers
No registration needed. Use this link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87147351072
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Monday, September 22nd from 6 - 7:15 PM
NOFA-NJ & Coddiwomple Canning Co.
Commercial Kitchen/Co-Packing/Value-Added Products
No registration needed. Use this link to join. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84132071408
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Wednesday, October 1st from 5:30 - 6:45 PM
The Cooperative Market & Urban Agriculture Cooperative
Creating a Nonprofit Food Hub
No registration needed. Use this link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83862494373
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Wednesday, October 15 from 6 - 7:30 PM
Red Tomato Food Hub
Registration required:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/R3gWWPIETK-p1yyJ1M4qag
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Tuesday, October 28, 5 - 6:15 PM
Networking with Local Nuts & Grains: Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative (ASFC), Route 9 Cooperative & the Craft Miller's Guild.
Registration required:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pWZpxZ2STVmOdik9RdhEvg
SJ FEAST MEMBERS & PARTICIPANTS RESOURCE HUB
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SJ FEAST Steering Committee, Summer Meeting at Walking Bird Farm. July 23, 2025. Click for Meeting Agenda.
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🌱 ALL
🌻 CO-CHAIRS
🧑🌾 FACILITATORS
🌱 October: Inviting Input on Creation of South Jersey Farms Website & Marking/Branding Materials
🌱 November 10, 2025 @ 1 - 4 PM ~ Core Group Meeting
Set expectations, establish governance and norms for the Steering Committee, make key decisions about ACRE workshop (e.g., what information is needed, who to interview, who to invite)
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton
🌻 🧑🌾 November through January 2025 @ Time TBD ~ Preparations for Workshop
Plan logistics, food, invites, materials
Email, text, call, Zoom
🌱 January 7 and 9, 2026, 10 - 3 pm ~ ACRE Workshop
Bring together SJ FEAST stakeholders to form a shared vision and develop a project (with multiple initiatives) to achieve that shared vision
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton
🌱 Late January 2026 Date TBD @ 10 - 3 pm ~ Post-Workshop Core Group Meeting | Approval of Strategic Work Plan -
Address any weaknesses or gaps in the project feasibility and recruit project leaders
TBD in person or virtual
Contact Jeanine@njfooddemocracy.org for questions or more information.
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What is ACRE?
Food supply chain/Food system Technical Assistance (T.A.) provider search
Overview of Different Models for Farmer/Grower Collectives and Cooperatives
Meet the Steering Committee
Maggie Belskis
Maggie Belskis is the Media and Mission Engagement Coordinator at Reed’s Farm, where she helps lead campaigns, grant projects, and brand storytelling. With a background in corporate marketing and a love for regenerative agriculture, she brings both professional experience and her passion for homesteading to SJ FEAST.
Melanie Ganzman
Melanie is the co-owner of Fluffy Farms and the South Jersey Farm Collective CSA, where she helps connect local farms to the community while also growing no-spray produce, baking freshly milled sourdough, and raising 50 goats with regenerative practices. She’s deeply committed to strengthening the local food system and making it easier for families to enjoy the harvests South Jersey has to offer.
Links: Www.fluffyfarms.com ; Instagram: fluffy.farms ; email: fluffyfacefarms@gmail.com.
Marieann Harp
Marie owns and operates Working Dog Farms in Galloway, New Jersey with her husband, Ryan. Marie most cherishes the rewards of the harvest, the heartfelt connections and shared memories with community members and contributing to a stronger, local community nourished by clean food.
Links: www.facebook.com/workingdogfarms; Instagram: workingdogfarms
Ben Topial
Ben Topiel is a Project Manager with Virtua Health’s Eat Well programs, which include a Mobile Farmers Market, Mobile Grocery Store, and Food Farmacy. Through these food-is-medicine programs, Eat Well empowers communities to thrive by purchasing locally grown food and providing it for free or low cost in under-resourced neighborhoods.
Link: https://www.virtua.org/about/community-programs/eat-well
Jonathan Wetstein
Jonathan Wetstein is the Sustainable Food Systems Advocate for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) and founder of Roots to Prevention (RTP). RTP, a six-year-old cross-sector collaboration originally based in Camden, NJ, is now part of PPA’s social equity programs. The initiative helps create economic opportunities in underserved urban communities by supporting hyper-local growers and connecting their produce to institutional buyers such as hospitals and to neighborhood farm stands. A graduate of Penn State’s Community and Economic Development program, Jonathan has worked with non-profits on food system initiatives that connect Camden residents to healthy food and income opportunities since 2011.
