November 22-23, Belleville ON
http://www.eastontlocalfood.com/eastern-ontario-local-food-conference-2016/
The Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference is just around the corner and this year’s focus is all about resilience in the face of climate change and other contemporary challenges. Join us, and best-selling local food author and CBC columnist Sarah Elton, as we explore ways that Eastern Ontario local food and its producers, processors and influencers can meet those challenges and seize opportunities that are unique to Eastern Ontario local food.
This year’s conference includes:
- Local Food Bus Tour: An afternoon tour will highlight businesses in the Quinte region who are putting local food on the map. Visit Sprague Foods, Barn Owl Malt, Wild Card Brewery, Enright Cattle Company, Potter Settlement Winery and Donnandale Farms.
- Local Food Extravaganza (Tasting Event): This showcase of local foods and beverages, representing the various culinary regions across Eastern Ontario, will tempt your taste buds into the conference’s first evening.
- Keynote Speaker: Drawing on her years of research and writing on food systems, award-winning journalist and best-selling author Sarah Elton will illustrate how Eastern Ontario’s local food system can be a part of the solution to serious global challenges. With inspiring examples from around the world, she will explore the idea of food system resilience – what it means, and how it can be applied locally.
- Ignite: Five minutes of back-to-back wisdom and inspiration from ten local food trailblazers.
- Eastern Ontario Local Food 2050: What does current scientific understanding predict when it comes to growing conditions in Eastern Ontario in the coming years? How can our agriculture sector prepare to meet challenges and access opportunities that might arise from these changes?
- Economic Resilience for Local Food: How does a local food system create economic value both for its consumers and its producers? How does a shifting global trade environment affect our local food systems? Join this presentation and discussion with OMAFRA’s senior economist.
- Global Realities, Local Decisions: Farming, food and beverage businesses can play a role in increasing our local food system’s resilience in response to global challenges. Hear from businesses about how these concerns have affected their local decision making.
- Food Hubs: “To Hub or Not to Hub” that is the question. Explore what is happening with food hubs in Eastern Ontario and what it takes to plan a food hub that meets your community’s needs.
- Designing Resilient Food Systems: Hear from innovative farmers who are using infrastructure to improve the long-term resilience of their diverse operations.
- The Municipal Role in Local Food: Local Food represents an economic development opportunity that municipalities may want to support. But where to start? Hear from jurisdictions that have developed good local food programs in keeping with the municipal role. Learn about resources that exist to guide your efforts and help evaluate your programs.
- Business Decisions for Resilience: How can businesses plan and structure for economic resilience? How can that resilience benefit their communities? This session will provide examples of leadership in that field.
- Marketing Local, Selling Local: Discover how one local campaign increases awareness of locally produced products & learn tips for getting your products into retail.
- Costing & Pricing for Profit: Learn how to calculate your costs and price your products for financial success in retail and wholesale markets.
To register or for further details:
http://www.eastontlocalfood.com/eastern-ontario-local-food-conference-2016/
