Bring Food Home: Connecting Ontario Farm and Food Networks

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:35:43 +0000

This conference will bring together a broad range of participants from diverse regions and sectors, including farmers, health promoters, community groups and government organizations. The purpose of this gathering is to facilitate our learning and working together to create food systems that are healthy, just, accessible, culturally appropriate, financially viable and sustainable.

The Conference has been organized into the following streams:

Training for Emerging Farmers
Building Capacity for Healthy Eating and Community Food Security
Strengthening Regional Economies
Sustaining Food Production – Farm, City and Countryside

To date we have confirmed Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm and of Food, Inc. fame as one of several keynote speakers, as well as Martin Gooch from the George Morris Centre who will lead a workshop in value chain management. The FarmOn Alliance is planning a whole day of events related to new farmer training.

The “Bring Food Home” Conference will feature a daily plenary, workshop choice in five programming streams, networking space and special events. Each day of the conference is organized to present a different aspect of food security and local sustainable food systems. Day one is devoted to technical training and tours, day two examines projects and policy and day three draws the participants together to develop a plan for future collaboration and action. Joel Salatin, an alternative farmer from Virginia that was featured in Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma”, has been invited to give the opening keynote. The balance of the speakers is food and farming experts from across the province. For a more detailed program, check out the website.

Working closely with the executive chef at the Delta, the conference will feature a menu made up primarily of food local to Ontario. An emphasis on seasonal products and locally produced meats will allow conference attendees to celebrate the good things that grow in Ontario. Day two of the conference will feature an evening “Taste of Waterloo Region” event co-sponsored by Sustain Ontario and the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance. To be held at the nearby Waterloo Children’s’ Museum, it will showcase the great products and businesses that make up much of this regional food system.

Register for the full conference, register for one day of programming or join us for either of the special evening events.

foodnetontario.ca

Bring Food Home: Connecting Ontario Farm and Food Networks