New Haven Food Infrastructure Tour
Monday April 20, 2026
10:30am – 3:30pm
Lunch is provided by Sanctuary Kitchen
This is a funder-only event
Co-sponsored by Connecticut Council for Philanthropy and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Join us for a learning tour in New Haven and explore food system infrastructure of all sizes. Walk through the future site of a 18,000sf food hub, and meet the farmers, gardeners, and entrepreneurs who can benefit from its operations. We will hear from city leaders and community organizers working across neighborhoods to expand access to land, strengthen markets for local food, and support BIPOC growers and food businesses.
The tour starts at the new facility in development by CitySeed, an organization supporting farmers markets, food businesses, and regional producers in the New Haven area. This former shirt factory is designed to serve as a hub for aggregation, value-added production, and distribution. It will support both regional farms and neighborhood-scale food initiatives.
Lunch will be provided by Sanctuary Kitchen, a culinary training program and social enterprise for new residents in Greater New Haven. During lunch, we will hear from Latha Swamy, Food Policy Director for the City of New Haven, about the city’s food systems work. We will also hear from Casa Otoñal about community-led gardening and food access efforts serving local residents.
After lunch, participants will visit two community gardens: Armory Community Garden and Starr Street Community Garden. Both are part of the Gather New Haven garden network. These sites illustrate how community-managed land, youth engagement, and cooperative distribution models are building grassroots food infrastructure across the city. They provide food, education, and gathering places for residents
At the gardens, we will hear from Dishaun Harris (“Farmer D”), founder of Rootlife, and Nadine Horton. Both community leaders and land stewards are active in several projects across the city. One such project is the Liberated Land Collective CSA that is connecting produce from community gardens and regional farms to households across New Haven.
Together, these visits offer a look at the interplay between municipal policy, nonprofit infrastructure, and community-led food production in one city’s evolving food system.
Learn
- The role of nonprofit facilities like CitySeed’s new hub in supporting regional farmers and local food entrepreneurs
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How community gardens and grassroots organizations are building neighborhood-based food infrastructure in New Haven
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How collaborative models such as the Liberated Land Collective CSA connect community-grown and regional food to local households
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Opportunities for philanthropy to support community land access, food system infrastructure, and farmer networks in Connecticut
Speakers
- Sarah Miller, Executive Director, CitySeed
- Latha Swamy, New Haven Food Policy Director
- Dishaun Harris, Founder, Rootlife
- Nadine Horton, Community Organizer and Founder, Armory community garden
- Kaitlyn Kimball, Owner, Sunset Farm; and Director of Agriculture, CitySeed
- Ella Kennen, Coordinator, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance
- Millie Ramos, Casa Otoñal
Tour Agenda
*Subject to change
10:30 – Meet at CitySeed, start tour
12:00 – Lunch and presentations
1:00 – Depart for community gardens
1:15 – Starr Street Community Garden
2:15 – Armory Community Garden
3:15 – Closing back at CitySeed