local food

Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference

November 7, 2011 by Louise Livingstone

This event is a bilingual conference designed to build stronger collaborative relationships among Eastern Ontario local food organizations and to provide technical information on key topics needed to build the sector.

Details and Registration Information are available at: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/events

Katie Nolan: 613-258-8295 katie [dot] nolan [at] ontario [dot] ca

AGENDA

8:30 am           Registration and Welcome

9:00 am           Tom Stearns, Keynote Speaker President of Center for an Agricultural Economy and High Mowing Seeds, Vermont

                        Topic: "Forging a Healthy Food System: Vermont's New Path" (English, with simultaneous translation)

 Tom Stearns began gardening at an early age at his family home in CT.  Prior to completing a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Prescott College in AZ, he began saving seeds.  A hobby was born in 1996 in Vermont, when Tom began sharing these seeds with others through a small seed flyer.  High Mowing Organic Seeds has since expanded into one of the leading organic seed companies in the U.S., supplying both home gardeners and commercial growers.  Tom’s vision has always been to create a company that would help support the re-building of healthy food systems, first in Vermont, followed by the rest of the U.S.  He has also taught numerous workshops since 1996 on many topics such as ag. education, economics, community supported agriculture, genetic engineering, plant breeding, local food systems, sustainable business, investing and more.  His informal, personal style, ability to explain complex issues and infectious enthusiasm makes him a popular and inspiring speaker.  In addition, he has served on the board of several agricultural organizations, most notably as the current President of The Center for an Agricultural Economy.  He lives on 50 acres in Vermont, with his wife Heather, and their two girls, Ruby and Cora.

 10–11:30 am   Panel of Eastern Ontario Local Food initiatives: An interactive session focused on various approaches to scaling up the regional food system.

                        (English/French, with simultaneous translation)

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

• ·          The Local Food Consumer, an update from Foodland Ontario
• ·          Measuring Economic Success of Local Food Initiatives
• ·          Accessing Retail Markets
• ·          Food Business Incubation
• ·          Co-operating for Success:  Bringing farmers and consumers together
• ·          Market Research 101
• ·          Ontario’s Meat Inspection System
• ·          Planning for Local Food
• ·          Local Food Lessons from Quebec

Location