Event

Strengthening New York’s Food Economy

April 24, 2025

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will host an in-person event on building a stronger food economy in New York State. Sessions will focus on building resilience and capacity in the food economy, connecting small food producers with capital, supporting accessible and abundant local food systems, and enhancing community health.

This event will be of interest to health and food policymakers, agricultural producers and stakeholders, advocates, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Registration closes on April 21, 2025.


Event Details

Date & Time
April 24, 2025
2:00pm-5:00pm
(Networking preceding event; reception to follow.)

Location
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY

Audience
This event is open to the public.

Media

This event is open to the media. All remarks are on the record, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org




Agenda
Agenda
2:00pm-2:05pm  Opening Remarks

Tony Davis, Director of Community Outreach and Health, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
SESSION 1: AN ABUNDANT, RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN NEW YORK STATE

2:05pm-2:15pm  FedTalk: The Empire State Foodshed

Phoebe Schreiner, Executive Director, Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship

2:15pm-3:05pm  Panel 1: Building a Better New York Food Economy

Moderator: Julian Macrone, Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Charley Cummings, CEO, Walden Mutual Bank

Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy

Julie Suarez, Associate Dean, Director of Translational Research Programs, Office of Land-Grant Affairs, Cornell CALS

SESSION 2: INVESTING IN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

3:05pm-3:15pm  FedTalk: Food Security and Healthy Food Access

Greg Silverman, CEO and Executive Director, West Side Campaign Against Hunger

3:15pm-4:05pm  Panel 2: Food System Access and Small Enterprise Capital Needs

Moderator: Mark Watson, Co-founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer Potlikker Capital

Carlos Aguilera, West Haven Farm

Ivy Jack, Westfuller Advisors

Jarrad Nwameme, Chief Operating Officer, Triple J Farms

Roraj Pradhananga, Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Director, Investment, Veris Wealth Partners

Olivia Watkins, Co-Founder & President, Black Farmer Fund

Karen Hiniker Simons, Principal, Hudson Varick Resources, Ltd.
4:05pm-4:55pm  Panel 3: Building New York’s Food Future in Buffalo

Moderator: Hanaa A. Hamdi, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Allison DeHonney, Executive Director, Buffalo Go Green

Pastor George F. Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, Buffalo Center for Health Equity

Michelle Roberts, VP of Community Impact and Executive Director, Buffalo Bills Foundation

Michael Ball, Vice President, Community Affairs, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York
4:55pm-5:00pm  Closing Remarks

Javier Silva, Senior Associate Director, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of New York


Speakers

Carlos Aguilera
West Haven Farm


Michael Ball
Vice President, Community Affairs
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York


Charley Cummings
CEO
Walden Mutual Bank


Tony Davis
Director of Community Outreach & Health
Federal Reserve Bank of New York


Allison DeHonney
Executive Director
Buffalo Go Green


Hanaa A. Hamdi, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar
Federal Reserve Bank of New York


Karen Hiniker Simons
Principal
Hudson Varick Resources, Ltd.


Ivy Jack
Westfuller Advisors


Kate MacKenzie
Executive Director
NYC Mayor's Office of Food Policy


Julian Macrone
Community Development Specialist
Federal Reserve Bank of New York


Pastor George F. Nicholas
Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Center for Health Equity


Jarrad Nwameme
Chief Operating Officer
Triple J Farms


Roraj Pradhananga
Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Director, Investment
Veris Wealth Partners


Michelle Roberts
VP of Community Impact and Executive Director
Buffalo Bills Foundation


Phoebe Schreiner
Executive Director
Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship


Javier Silva
Senior Associate Director, Community Development
Federal Reserve Bank of New York


Greg Silverman
CEO and Executive Director
West Side Campaign Against Hunger


Julie Suarez
Associate Dean, Director of Translational Research Programs
Office of Land-Grant Affairs, Cornell CALS


Olivia Watkins
Co-Founder & President
Black Farmer Fund


Mark Watson
Co-founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer
Potlikker Capital


The contents on this page-including third-party resources, hyperlinks and documents-are provided for informational purposes only and do not necessarily represent the views of the New York Fed or the Federal Reserve System.
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. You can learn more about how we use cookies by reviewing our Privacy Statement.   Close