US: CLF announces plans for national expansion of Legal Food Hub

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced that its Legal Food Hub, a first-of-its-kind initiative pairing local farmers and food entrepreneurs with pro bono legal services, has plans to expand nationally in the next several years. This will be the first national program launched by CLF in its fifty-year history. The announcement comes as the Hub releases its second annual report, highlighting the $825,000 in free legal services that this effort has provided to over 150 individuals and businesses throughout New England.

“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.”

After launching in Massachusetts in 2014, the Hub has since expanded to Maine, will be launching in Rhode Island this October, and will be expanding to Connecticut in 2017 in partnership with Yale Law School. CLF is actively seeking local partners in other states passionate about food advocacy and interested in being a part of this initiative.

For more information:
Legal Food Hub
legalfoodhub@clf.org
www.legalfoodhub.org