Wilmington: Join the Movement at the Local Food Conference

Wilmington: Join the Movement at the Local Food Conference

by 01/16/2017

Wilmington, NC – The 7th annual Local Food Conference, presented by Feast Down East, will take place on February 10th, 2017 at the UNC Wilmington Burney Center from 8:00am to 3:30pm. This event brings together all those who are involved in supporting and growing the local food system in Southeastern North Carolina. This includes farmers and fishermen, food retailers and establishments, foodies, local food advocates, and community leaders. The purpose of the conference is to strengthen the activities of these groups and the networks between them.

The Local Food Conference offers a variety of educational workshops geared toward several different audiences. In keeping with Feast Down East’s mission to help support area farmers grow their businesses, a number of workshops focus on farm business skills, agricultural techniques, and financial sustainability. Some of the topics, such as seed saving and irrigation systems, will also be of interest to area gardeners. For consumers and foodies, the conference offers workshops on food system topics such as Wilmington’s growing reputation as a food destination, as well as cooking demonstrations by local chefs. Finally, advocates and community leaders will participate in workshops about the formation and functions of local food policy councils, which seek to improve local food systems and economies.

During the lunch period from 12:15-2:00, attendees will be treated to a locally-sourced meal prepared by UNCW Campus Dining chefs. They will be greeted by area leaders, including UNCW Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli, City of Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, New Hanover County Commissioner Skip Watkins, and Randy Gore, former State Director for USDA NC Rural Development. Following the welcome session, Feast Down East will present the annual Agrarian Stewardship Awards, which honor a local chef, farmer, and community champion for their contributions to promoting the local food system. Finally, the keynote speaker for the conference, Dr. Nancy Creamer from North Carolina State University, will present on the role of local food councils in building strong communities.

In the afternoon from 2:00-3:30, area organizations will have displays in the Burney Center lobby as part of the conference Community Foods Expo. These nonprofits and businesses will provide information about how their programs and services benefit the regional food system. The expo will also include a food drive to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. In addition, there will be facilitated networking opportunities throughout the afternoon, which will allow conference attendees to meet and discuss specific topics of mutual interest.

For more information about the Local Food Conference, please visit the conference website, join the conference event page on Facebook, or contact Sarah Daniels at (910) 962-7723 or [email protected].

Feast Down East, is a nonprofit organization working to “grow our local food system.” It is affiliated with UNC Wilmington through the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program. The mission of Feast Down East is to create a healthy, accessible local food system, which supports economic growth in Southeastern North Carolina. The organization offers a number of programs designed to strengthen several key aspects of the local food system: farmer support, produce distribution, and local food access for all consumers. The Feast Down East Food Hub is a USDA-designated facility, which helps limited-resource farmers market, process and distribute their products. For more information, visit the website www.FeastDownEast.org

 

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