Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County Announces 2026 Food Systems Excellence Award Winners

The Food Policy Council (FPC) of Buffalo and Erie County is recognizing five winners of its 2026 Food Systems Excellence Awards, whose exceptional projects are making a meaningful and lasting contribution to Erie County's local food system.

The Food Systems Excellence Awards highlight projects carried out by municipalities, institutions, non-profit organizations and individuals that demonstrate innovative approaches to food access, agriculture, education, community engagement and other aspects of the local food system.

The 2026 award winners are:

• East Aurora High School Sustainable Agriculture Program (Community Impact, Education, and Engagement): The program was recognized for its work connecting students with sustainable agriculture and providing hands-on opportunities to learn about food production and the local food system.

• East Side Stewards (Food Access and Equity): East Side Stewards was recognized for its work advancing food access and equity in Buffalo's East Side and strengthening community connections to healthy, locally available food.

• Providence Farm Collective (Food System Innovation): Providence Farm Collective was recognized for its significant contributions to a more inclusive and equitable local food system through its support of immigrant and refugee farmers and its community-based agricultural programs.

• Dwight Lowe and Home Beneath our Feet (Food System Leadership): Dwight Lowe was recognized for his leadership in empowering youth and families to address food insecurity and building community-based solutions through Home Beneath Our Feet.

• Rooted in Love (FPC Chair's Choice Award): The FPC Chair's Choice Award recognizes a project that stood out for its contribution to the local food system and its alignment with the FPC's mission of advancing an equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system.

The FPC also recognizes this year's honorable mentions, whose projects demonstrated strong leadership and meaningful contributions to Erie County's food system:

• Farm 2 Table Field Trip Program: Community Impact, Education and Engagement

• Hope & Joy Food Pantry: Food Access and Equity

• FreshFix Food Hub: Food System Innovation

• Laura Watson at the Springville-Griffith Institute: Food System Leadership

"This year's Food Systems Excellence Award winners represent creativity and a sense of community that are making our region's food sector more equitable and resilient at a time when too many families across our communities are experiencing food insecurity," said Deputy County Executive Lisa Chimera. "With so many moving pieces within our food infrastructure, we welcome the opportunity to highlight the people and organizations that have invested their time and energy in improving food access with an eye toward sustainability and meaningful impact."

"The Food Systems Excellence Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate the people and organizations doing the hard work of building a stronger local food system," said Sarah Gatti, FPC Chair.

The FPC congratulates the 2026 nominees for their commitment to strengthening Erie County's food system.