Since its founding, the Legal Food Hub has focused on increasing access to legal services for the small farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food organizations building a better New England food system. We recognize how important a strong legal foundation can be to a farm, business, or nonprofit’s success. When farmers confront crop losses caused by frosts, floods, and droughts, and when food professionals innovate to make the most of new opportunities, a lawyer’s assistance can make all the difference. That’s why we continue to build a Hub that equitably serves New England.
Last year, our most important investment was in language. New England’s food system is incredibly diverse. Attendees of the Legal Food Hub’s 2024 Winter Webinar Series spoke 10 different languages at home, including Spanish, Cape Verdean, and Filipino. Our participants contact us with high-stakes challenges. And as they navigate an already complex legal system, participants should have the option to do so in their preferred language.
Today, participants can work with the Legal Food Hub in almost any language. If one of our staff doesn’t speak a participant’s preferred language, we can immediately involve an interpreter who does. In addition, participants can review the Hub’s eligibility requirements in seven languages commonly spoken in New England’s food system, including French, Somali, and Hmong. Last, we continue to expand our library of Spanish-language legal guides.
Improvements like these are critical as the Hub serves more farmers, food professionals, and food nonprofits. Last year, we connected 53% more participants to much-needed legal help than we did the year before, and we presented our best-attended winter webinar series yet. We’re more determined than ever to remove barriers that limit access to the legal system. And we look forward to another year of securing legal services and resources for the people who make New England’s food system possible.
