“Small-scale farms and food businesses are indispensable to a just, healthy and economically vibrant region,” said Jenny Rushlow, Director of CLF’s Farm and Food Initiative. “Unfortunately, like every small business, they have legal needs that too often go unaddressed because of the cost. We started the Legal Food Hub to relieve that cost burden and help grow local, sustainable food systems, and we’re proud of the inroads we’ve made over the past two years. Still, we know that farmers and food entrepreneurs all around the country face many of the same challenges as those here in New England, and we look forward to replicating the success of this program.”
Aug 25
2016
2016
May 14
2016
2016
CLF’s Hub Helps Improve New England Farms’ Uncertain Future
In late April, CLF partners American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Land For Good (LFG) released a joint study on farm succession in New England. The study reveals that our region’s farmers are aging fast – as of 2012, 85% of principal farm operators were over the age of 45, up from 76% in 2002. In…
Apr 22
2016
2016
CLF Farm and Food Initiative Honored by City of Boston
“Jenny has been an unflappable champion for New England’s farmers, food entrepreneurs and consumers, and it’s wonderful to see Mayor Walsh give her work the recognition it deserves,” said CLF president Bradley Campbell…
Mar 8
2016
2016
Old Labor Laws Run up against New Farming Approaches
CLF’s Ben Tettlebaum, a staff attorney in our Maine office, is featured in this Portland Press Herald article about farmers and labor law. At the Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta last month, the Conservation Law Foundation’s Legal Services Food Hub hosted a panel on Employment Law for farmers, with the goal of “untangling the web…
Feb 18
2016
2016
CLF’s Legal Services Food Hub Crosses 100-Case Mark, Leverages More Than Half Million in Legal Assistance
CLF launched its Legal Services Food Hub with one goal in mind: keeping New England’s food producers in business. A year and a half into this new program, we are delighted to announce that the Hub has crossed a major threshold in its mission to achieve this goal: we placed our 100th case and crossed…
Nov 25
2015
2015
Local Food Innovation: A Win for Maine
This past weekend, ten teams competed to win the first ever Maine Farm, Fish, and Food Innovation Challenge. What’s an “Innovation Challenge”? Think Top Chef for startup businesses aimed at expanding the sustainable distribution, processing, marketing, and aggregation of Maine foods. Thirty-six participants representing 10 teams participated in the weekend event at Bowdoin College. Over…
Sep 29
2015
2015
Legal Services Food Hub Celebrates First Year Helping Farmers and Food Businesses Thrive
It’s been just over a year since CLF’s Legal Services Food Hub launched, matching farmers, food entrepreneurs, and the organizations that support them with pro bono legal services. We are pleased to share our Annual Report highlighting the accomplishments of the Legal Services Food Hub over the last year. It has been an incredibly…
Jul 30
2015
2015
CLF Celebrates Opening of Historic Boston Public Market
“The Boston Public Market is a true reflection of our community coming together to enrich the local economy and provide healthy, fresh food for Boston residents,” said Jenny Rushlow, Director of Conservation Law Foundation’s Farm & Food Initiative. “Local farmers and food businesses are at the heart of a thriving New England. CLF was thrilled to join so many passionate advocates in making this first-of-its-kind market a reality, and we look forward to seeing this success replicated throughout the region.”
Jul 30
2015
2015
Celebrating the Opening of Boston Public Market
This first-of-its-kind, all locally sourced market was brought about with the help of CLF’s Legal Services Food Hub The grand opening of the Boston Public Market today included beautiful displays of plump summer fruits and glistening freshly caught seafood, but that’s not what caught my eye. My focus was drawn to the various stall arrangements for…
May 26
2015
2015
Farmers and Lawyers: A Match Made in Maine
Noah Fralich moved back home to Maine with one ambition: to open a business on his family’s land in New Gloucester. His fledgling cidery business was just getting off the ground when he hit a snag – the name of his business was already trademarked by someone else. Now, in the midst of trying to grow…