IESH co-founded and co-leads the Food Systems Working Group in partnership with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement. The Working Group brings together a diverse cohort of farmers, educators, community champions, and food-systems professionals who share a commitment to strengthening the region’s food future. Together, they are reimagining what a more resilient and sustainable local food system could look like for the Rio Grande Valley.

Their collaborative efforts include identifying gaps and opportunities across the regional supply chain; elevating community priorities; and catalyzing community-driven solutions that support producers, improve access to nutritious food, and build long-term regional resilience.

The group meets monthly to discuss emerging issues affecting farmers, explore creative solutions, and develop both short-term and long-range strategies to strengthen the regional food ecosystem. They recognize that fostering more symbiotic partnerships between farmers, community organizations, and the broader food economy is essential not only to preserving and expanding food access, but also to ensuring the long-term economic viability of local producers.

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