The People behind the Plan
2025 NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan
The 2025 NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan was, and continues to be, a collective effort, representing the work, vision, and voices of hundreds of dedicated individuals deeply committed to New Hampshire's food system. Three groups of people lead the process— the Strategic Plan Development Team, the Advisory Committee, and individual Brief Authors. Get to know everyone who ensured the Strategic Plan is comprehensive and impactful.
The Strategic Plan Development Team
The development team holds the center of the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. They built systems, engaged with the NH Food Alliance network and other partners to seek input from stakeholders across the state, organize, and incorporate feedback, engaged the advisory committee, and so much more.
Nicole Cardwell, NH Food Alliance
Colleen Jennings, NH Food Alliance
Claire Erley, Food Works Group
Celie Boley, NH Food Alliance
Elise Neidecker, NH Food Alliance
Wania Ahmed, Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire
Scott Sawyer, Designer and Data Analytics
The Advisory Committee
The NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan is made better by the support, guidance, and input from some of the most influential leaders in our food system. Browse through the Advisory Committee below.
Commissioner Shawn Jasper
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
Ariel Aaronson-Eves, Coordinator
NH Queer Farmers Network *
Ben Amsden, Senior Program Officer
NH Charitable Foundation
Charlene Andersen, Food and Farm Lender
New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Amy Bassett, Deputy Director
Division of Travel and Tourism Development, NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Anton Bekkerman, Director, Associate Dean
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
Xochiquetzal Salazar, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH) *
Representative Peter Bixby
New Hampshire House of Representatives
Tiffany Brewster, Community Engagement Director
NH Hunger Solutions
Noah Hodgetts, Principal Planner
Office of Planning and Development, NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Todd Horner, Assistant Director
Southwest Region Planning Commission
Cameron Huftalen, Project Manager, Food Systems and Economy
Vital Communities *
Lauren Judd, Executive Director
Cornucopia Project
Nikki Kolb, Operations Director
Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH)
Eileen Liponis, (formerly) Executive Director
New Hampshire Food Bank
Chief Lisa Gray, Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation
Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust *
Gavin Macdonald, Owner
Genuine Local
Assistant Commissioner Josh Marshall
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
Josephine Porter, Chief Strategy Officer
NH Center for Justice and Equity *
Katelyn Porter, Coordinator
NH Food Hub Network
Allan Reetz, Director Public & Government Affairs
Hanover Co-op Food Stores of VT and NH
Ameenah Shabazz, (formerly) NH Racial Equity Ambassador
Food Solutions New England (FSNE) *
Sarah Waring, (formerly) State Director for VT and NH
USDA Rural Development
Tim Wennrich, Owner and Operator
Meadowstone Farm
Tara Westenhiser, Food Access Coordinator
Division of Public Health Service, NH Department of Health and Human Services
Seth Wilner, Extension Field Specialist
Food and Agriculture Team, UNH Extension
*served as an Equity Advisor
The Brief Authors
118 subject matter experts authored the 27 Product, Market, and Issue briefs that make up the bulk of the Strategic Plan. These subject matter experts worked collaboratively with their peers to discuss and summarize current conditions, challenges, opportunities, and recommended next steps for their area of expertise.
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UNH Professor & Extension -
Morrill Farm Dairy -
Moulton Farm, NH Vegetable and Berry Growers Association -
UNH Extension -
UNH Professor -
UNH Extension -
Brookdale Fruit Farm, NH Fruit Growers Association -
CJEJ Farm, NH Farm Bureau -
UNH Extension -
LaValley Farms
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White Mountain Apiary -
Independent Plant Breeder -
Heritage Harvest Project -
Bedrock Gardens -
Tuckaway Farm & Tuckaway Food Commons -
NH Sea Grant, UNH Extension -
Dunk’s Mushrooms -
Fox Point Oysters -
UNH Extension -
NH Sea Grant
A Strategic Plan for All, Made by Many
In an effort to provide transparency about the people involved in the creation of this plan, all Advisory Committee members, subject matter experts, and project administrators were asked to complete an anonymous demographic survey. While the data below does not fully capture the story of the people behind this work, the hope is that it provides helpful and honest context about who had power and influence over the content of the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. As this work progresses, more can and must be done to ensure all people of New Hampshire are represented and have power over the future of the food system.
