It is the people’s right to decide their own food agricultural systems.
- Tanya Fields, Executive Director of The BLK ProjeK
We’re sanding the gears of a destructive [food] system, and we have to keep growing.
- Joan Gussow, Former Chair of Columbia Teachers College, Nutrition Education Program
Living just an hour outside of New York City has its advantages.
One of them? Going to great food conferences and festivals.
On Friday I headed into the city for the Just Food Conference, which brought together over 1500 foodies, farmers, and other local and organic food enthusiasts over the two-day conference.
The day started out with a simple breakfast buffet of Kashi cereals, Organic Valley milk, and rolls, juice, jam, and coffee from local producers.
I spent the day attending a bunch of workshops, and hearing speakers talk about the current U.S. agricultural system, the importance of community to the food movement (yay community!), and how to encourage others to hop in on the movement.
There were some incredible speakers, like Tanya Fields, a woman who ended up getting gentrified out of Harlem and into the South Bronx as a single mother with four children.
After seeing her children’s health getting worse, she eventually began a non-profit that empowers underserved women of color, and teaches them about environmental and food justice issues.
I also got to hear from the Brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, Garret Oliver, and the Publisher of Edible Magazine, Brian Halweil. It’s always inspiring to hear from people who have really come a long way in the food world.
I also attended three workshops:
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Community First: Business for the Greater Good
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Daily Bread: The Food, Farms and Faith Connection
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Revolutionary Restaurant Sourcing: How Restaurants Buy, Grow, & Support Local Food
Lunch was good too, of course. I had some Butternut Squash and Orzo Salad; Tabouleh Salad; a Beet, Goat Cheese, Caperberries and Swiss Chard Sandwich; and a Falafel and Hummus Wrap. Plus some brownies and cookies.
The biggest thing I took away from the conference?
That we can all participate in the food movement, even in ways that feel small – like joining a CSA, or talking to the farmers or artisan producers at farmers’ markets, or volunteering on a farm that gets teens growing and selling food.
Sometimes the local and organic movement seems like it’s big – and while it’s growing – it has a long way to go.
There are still lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs, dreamers, and doers.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
That sounded like a great conference. There is SFC in Austin that has a similar purpose to Tanya’s non-profit, it’s called Happy Kitchen http://www.sustainablefoodcenter.org/happy-kitchen where people can learn how to sustainably feed and cook for themselves. The SFC farmer’s market was co-founded by one of Austin’s top chefs
It would be neat to have a conference here and have our local food heros speak.
That conference in Austin sounds very cool. I’d love to check out Austin someday – I’ve heard they have a great foodie scene.
What an awesome conference. I wish I had the opportunity to go to these, but I am almost as happy reading about your experiences.
Thanks so much for sharing LIsa
Aw, thanks Rachel. I love being able to share opportunities like this with others. On Sunday I’m heading to a vegetarian food festival, so I’ll be sure to share photos and things from that too.
How wonderful this is! I love that people are encouraging each other to promote education about the food movement; it is SO important and vital that current and future generations understand the important messages of the food movement.
Definitely! I think so much about how children need to learn about the importance of healthy food and healthy farming, and that it’s crucial to keeping the environment in better shape.
Sounds like a terrific conference and I’m glad you attended. You’re right there is a LOT of opportunity for growth in the organic food industry and YOU are a part of it with your blog!
I love it when big movements make people feel like they can access the mission in simple, daily ways. I hope you have a blessed week, my friend. You make me smile, and I hope you find many things to make you smile too.
Definitely. I feel that way about the green movement too. Even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like the little things we can do make much of a difference, the example we lead is just as important as the actions themselves.
I hope you’re doing well, friend.
I love this! I really think the state of our food system is overlooked a lot in modern politics. And whether we choose to knowledge the sustainability of the structure of our food system or not, it will be a problem hat we have to deal with in the near future. But, I completely agree that aside from trying to bring awareness to the issue, the best things people can do is make conscious decisions about where they get there food. No one is perfect, but if everyone made a small changes, it would make a difference. Also, those baby onuses are so cute.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks, Jordan! Yeah, it’s hard to think about how our food system is failing so badly, and that the government is so tied into big agriculture and big business, that it’s hard to think of things ever changing.
At least there are lots of people working to make change, and I think it’s okay if the good food movement continues to stay as a grassroots effort.
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