How is Farm to School Working for Food Service?

Panelists will discuss how to evaluate the success of a farm to school program, from the viewpoint of the food service operation. Considerations include examining the costs of the overall program, how the program has impacted participant rates, and other factors important to the school food service operation. Through exploring specific examples, this workshop will include information on how to utilize the evaluation results and identify other factors that can be key to making or breaking a program.

Speakers: Dr Roberta Sonnino, School of City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University, England; Sandy Van Houten Curwood, Ventura Unified School District, CA; Glyen Holmes & Vonda Richardson, New North Florida Cooperative

Farm to College and Institutional Programs: A Review of Impact Data

This workshop presents current knowledge about the key impacts of farm to college and farm to institution programs, including hospitals. Presenters will discuss findings ranging from increase in dollars spent on purchasing from local farmers; financial viability of the program, to broader changes to institutional food environment and policies; and community involvement in the local food movement.

Speakers: Ariel Bleth, Grow Montana; Nancy Gummer, Good Shepherd Medical Center, TX

             The College Food Movement: Setting the Course

Explore how a unified movement of students, fair trade activists, farm to college organizers, and others can work together on campuses across the nation. Pursuing a common goal of transforming dining services with common language and a common framework, they can ride the national wave of energy and enthusiasm around these issues in order to achieve something truly monumental - a shift in the food system catalyzed by students. Find out what is being done and how you can get involved! Presenters will include representatives from national organizations and successful campus programs. This workshop will balance presentation with a high degree of audience participation.

Speakers: Tim Galerneau, Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, CA; Ashwini Jaisingh, United Students for Fair Trade; Rowan Dunlap and Anim Steel, The Food Project, MA

             Incorporating Culture into Food

Contemporary schools reflect increasing cultural diversity in their demographics. Food is a wonderful way to learn about and appreciate different cultures. This workshop will demonstrate effective ways to teach multiculturism through food.

Speakers: Antonia Demas, Food Studies Institute, NY; Ariel Demas, Food Studies Institute, MD; Jim Hanna, New American Sustainable Agriculture Project, ME

3:30 - 5:00 Workshop Session 2

             Rules, Regulations, Requirements

Farm to cafeteria work is bound by several regulations that apply to bidding requirements, food safety, product specifications, health codes, on-farm product handling, and liability issues. However, don’t let this deter your efforts to promote a program. Come to this workshop and learn about ways to work with these critical issues both from the farm and food service side. A list of resources will also be provided.

Speakers: Sandy Van Houten Curwood, Ventura Unified School District, CA; Craig Mapel, The New Mexico Dept. of Agriculture; Ed Costanza, Costanza Orchards, NM

Food for Thought: Moving to the Next Level of Buying Local at Kenyon College

Kenyon College, a long-time purchaser of local product, is starting to institutionalize its buying practices. This includes contracting directly with local farmers, matching the farmers’ product volume to the demands of the college, and more actively assisting farmers with logistical issues. A team of Kenyon College folks will address purchasing, infrastructure, and the farmer perspective on the operation of this program.

Speakers: John Marsh, Food for Thought, OH; David McConnell, Kenyon College, OH; Melody Monroe, AVI Foodsystems, OH; Troy Cooper, Ohio State University Extension-Knox County

Farm to Cafeteria Initiatives: Building on Recent Developments in Procurement Policy

Farm to school program and policy staff have been working on procurement policy changes needed to expand local purchases for the national school meal programs. An overview of policy recommendations for the Farm Bill debate will be provided as well as current policies and administrative barriers to local purchasing. You¹ll hear a first-hand account of how these policies do and don¹t translate to the school district level.

Speakers: Ray Denniston, Johnson City Consolidated School District, NY Richard Caplan, Harrison Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC

Building Partnerships with Student Groups, Clients, and the School Administration

Farm to college projects may be initiated by students, food service operators, or others. Within any type of scenario, there can be difficulties when it comes to student, client, and administrator support and involvement. Workshop panelists will provide guidance on how food service operators can best market their efforts to engage these resources when 1) there is little or no support from the student body or 2) when the institution is over-zealous and expecting ‘pie in the sky’ results.

Speakers: John Turenne, Sustainable Food Systems, CT; Philip Ackerman-Leist, Green Mountain College, VT; Mike Schreiner, Local Flavour Plus, Toronto

Primary Data Collection Needs for Farm to Cafeteria

Many farm to cafeteria programs are initiated as a result of findings from a feasibility study or a baseline assessment of the potential for the program. These preliminary studies are useful in structuring future program plans as well as laying out a framework for guiding the implementation. Speakers will share information from baseline studies that have helped shape the direction of farm to school and farm to college programs.

Speakers: Jennifer Wilkins, Cornell University, NY; Eli Zigas, Grinnell College (Iowa) graduate; Gail Feenstra, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, UC Davis, CA

             New Media in Farm to Cafeteria

One of the best ways to effectively combat the super-sized advertising budgets and public relations spin machines of the fast food industry is to create new media that educates and galvanizes people to action. This workshop will showcase how farm to cafeteria, food security, and sustainable food system advocates are harnessing the power of film to reach students, parents, educators, and policy makers. Meet individuals using media for social change, get a taste of media with a sustainable message, and discuss creative ways to use media in your own efforts.

Speakers: Le Adams, Farm to Table, NM; Dana Hudson, VT FEED; Johanna Divine, Glory B. Media, TX; Betsy Rosenbluth, VT Feed

Mobilizing Resources for Farm to School in Low and High Income Communities

Organizing farm to school programs varies greatly when dealing in high and low income communities, as access to resources influences how these programs develop.  In this session you’ll hear organizing examples from Santa Monica-Malibu USD, Compton USD in South Central LA, and rural Appalachia.

Speakers: Traci Thomas, Compton Unified School District, CA; Emily Jackson, Appalachia Sustainable Agriculture Project, NC; Rodney Taylor, Riverside Unified School District, CA

5:30 - 7:00  Reception at the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore is managed by the Bureau of Parks' Horticultural Division and is supported by the non-profit group, the Baltimore Conservatory Association. Located inside of Druid Hill Park, the Conservatory features year-round displays of plant material in five distinct areas of the facility: the 1888 Palm House, the Orchid Room, Mediterranean House, Tropical House and Desert House.

The event will be catered by Azafrán Café and Catering. Chef/owner Irena Stein uses local ingredients and organic food as much as possible. Her menus are seasonal and part of the café board changes weekly. They often include a multi cultural approach to serve her international clientele.

Please meet in Hotel lobby at 5pm for bus transport to event.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17  FARM TO CAFETERIA

8:30 - 10:00 Keynote: Dr. Kelly Brownell

Dr. Kelly Brownell is professor of the Department of Psychology at Yale University where he also serves as Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health and as Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Dr. Brownell has advised members of Congress, governors, world health and nutrition organizations, and media leaders on issues of nutrition, obesity, and public policy. He was cited by Time magazine as a leading “warrior” in the area of nutrition and public policy. In 2006,Time Magazine listed Kelly Brownell among “the World’s 100 Most Influential People” in its special Time 100 issue featuring those “...whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.”

10:30 - 12:00   Workshop Session 3

   Connecting the Food Service and Farmer

For food service, finding local farmers and products is not easy. For farmers, approaching institutional buyers is not easy either. Find out how successful projects have set up systems to make the process of finding farmers and institutional buyers easier, and about distribution systems that facilitate farm to cafeteria.

Speakers: Jane Slupecki, Connecticut Dept of Agriculture; Jim Churchill, Churchill Orchards, CA; Barbara Hartman, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, VA

Keep on Truckin’ Some More: The Next Evolution of Distribution Models

Having gained a little traction, there are some distribution methods that have evolved over the last several years. These include the Gold Coast Growers Collaborative in California and an effort in Washington to organize farmers for marketing and distribution efforts for multiple institutions. These programs will be examined as to how they may be replicated in other areas.

Speakers: Anya Fernald, Community Alliance with Family Farms, CA; Holly Freishtat, Agricultural Marketing Program, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, WA; Bill Jordan, Angello¹s Distributing, Inc., NY

The Farm Bill Revealed: How It Affects Youth and What We Can Do About It

Youth-led and youth-focused, this interactive and fun workshop will give participants the tools they need to understand the farm bill and make their voices heard. Some of the questions we'll explore: What is the Farm Bill? Why should I care? What is going on with this whole lawmaking process? Can I really have an impact on it? Conversations and role-playing will prepare participating youth for the upcoming advocacy visits.

Speakers: Sarah Pappas, FoodChange, NY; Amanda Wagner, Food Change Consultant, PA

Your Role in Developing Sustainable Food Purchasing Policies

A sustainable food purchasing policy serves as a powerful tool for an institution seeking to implement more ecologically sound and socially responsible practices.  Examples of the opportunities and challenges in this process will be discussed by those who have done it.  Food service operators and their clients and administrators are encouraged to attend this panel discussion, where they can share in effective ways to participate in the design and implementation of a policy, and then measure, track and report on its success. 

Speakers: Roberta Anderson, Food Alliance, MN; Timothy Galerneau, University of California, Santa Cruz; John Turenne, Sustainable Food Systems, CT

Evaluation Links to Funding and Policy

Funding agencies, policy makers and program supporters want data that clearly articulates the impacts of innovative farm to cafeteria programs on students, farmers, institutions and the local economy. Come listen to representatives from the funding and policy arenas to better understand which impacts of farm to cafeteria programs are the most impressive to showcase, which ones are funding agencies interested in reporting, and which ones will help impact policy change. Based on these findings, learn how to write effective evaluation goals and objectives that will make your program more successful.

Speakers: Terry Bazzarre, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NJ;

Leslie Levine, National Council of State Legislatures, CO; Allison Karpyn, The Food Trust, PA

Agricultural Labor and Sustainability

This workshop will address the impacts of current immigration reform proposals on farm worker families and the challenges these proposals present to the sustainability of our food systems.

Speakers: Rosalinda Guillen, Community to Community, WA; Richard Mandelbaum, Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas, NJ

             Incorporating Culture into Food

Contemporary schools reflect increasing cultural diversity in their demographics. Food is a wonderful way to learn about and appreciate different cultures. This workshop will demonstrate effective ways to teach multiculturism through food.

Speakers:  Antonia Demas, NY, Food Studies Institute; Ariel Demas, Food Studies Institute, MD; Jim Hanna, New American Sustainable Agriculture Project, ME

1:30 - 3:00 Workshop Session 4

             Integrating Cafeteria – Classroom Connections

Education about food and farming that connects with farm to school purchasing in the cafeteria and the overall learning environment at schools and colleges is an integral part of the farm to cafeteria model. Find out how K-12 programs are integrating these aspects of the program into existing state standards, how colleges are involving educators from different fields in the development of materials and about projects that link the cafeteria with the educational goals of the institution.

Speakers: Moira Beery, Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College, CA; Deborah Habib, Seeds of Solidarity, MA; Megan Ryan and Kenwood High School Students, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD

From Pesto Pizza to Kale Calzones: Student Involvement in Preparing Local Foods

From working on a farm to food preparation in the kitchen, students are experiencing a unique type of nutrition education. The session will focus on developing forward contracts with farmers, purchasing through CSAs, and student involvement in preparing local foods.

Doug Davis, Burlington School District, VT; Abbie Nelson, VT FEED; Jenn McGowan, Healthy City Youth Farm, Intervale, VT

Scaling Up Infrastructure and the Role of Policy

In urban areas surrounded by rural farm regions, the demand for local food exists and farmers are eager to supply those markets. Infrastructure, however, needed to complete the system is noticeably absent and sorely needed. While efficient and effective food distribution systems are in place, the actors have neither been engaged nor incentivized to support farm-to institution/regional/local food system efforts. A discussion about the CFSC policy targets that provide for new resources to expand on innovations such as these will follow.

Speakers: Kate MacKenzie, FoodChange, NY; Karen Karp, Karp Resources, NY; Toni Liquori, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY

How Can School Food Service Influence Success?

Farm to School Projects place difficult pressure on food service operations already faced with budgetary constraints and low staff morale. Speakers will address creative strategies for educating and motivating front line staff, how to incorporate commodity foods with local foods, how to build support amongst economic development, education, anti-hunger, and agricultural organizations, and how to minimize the need for long-term or large-scale grant support.

Speakers: Rodney Taylor, Riverside Unified School District, CA; Kelly Erwin, Massachusetts Farm to School Project; Claire Kozower, Somerville Public Schools, MA

K-12 Farm to School Programs : A Review of Impact Data

This workshop presents current knowledge about the key impacts of farm to school programs operational at K-12 school sites, providing specific examples from projects, as well as identifying gaps where data is not available. Findings may range from increase in dollars spent on purchasing from local farmers; increase in fruit and vegetable consumption; changes in student knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards local, healthy foods; to broader changes to institutional food environment and policies; and community involvement in the local food movement.

Speakers: Anupama Joshi, Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College, CA; Jeri Ohmart, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, CA; Sarah Kruse, Ecotrust, OR

Selling Your Products to Institutions: What You Need to Know

Hear from farmers and food service what you need to know to begin selling to institutional markets such as K-12 schools, colleges and universities. Topics to be covered include: how to approach food service providers, products that are in demand, packaging, processing, the form of the product, delivery options, and other related topics.

Speakers: Ray Denniston, Johnson City Consolidated School District, NY; Jerry Dygart, Champlain Valley Specialty, NY; Pat Lanni, Lanni Orchards, MA

3:30 - 5:00  Workshop Session 5

Innovative Collaborations and Opportunities for Farm to Cafeteria

Any farm to cafeteria program cannot be run in isolation and often brings together a myriad of partnerships, ranging from food service professionals, farmers, parents to teachers. Some programs are thinking out-of-the-box and exploring innovative partnerships with hospitals and health care departments and institutions, building coalitions to promote the local purchasing mantra on a local level, finding funding from non-traditional sources to support farm to cafeteria efforts, and involving community members and organizations in the program.

Speakers: Ariel Bleth, Grow Montana; Dina Izzo, Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), CA; Lisa McEuen, Bon Appetit Management Company

Farmer Organized Marketing and Processing for Institutional Markets

Institutional markets for locally produced food, such as schools, hospitals and state institutions, require the pooling of product to achieve quality and volume targets. Further, most institutions require partly or fully processed products. Come find out how farmers are organizing to bring value added processing benefits directly to farmers. Learn about marketing associations to allow socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and small and family farmers access to institutional markets.

Speakers: Glyen Holmes and Vonda Richardson, New North Florida Cooperative

Federal Food and Farm Policy Advocacy 101: Basic Skills Needed to be a Successful Advocate. (repeated Sunday)

CFSC policy staff will organize advocacy skill building workshop to help participants prepare for their Monday Capitol Hill visits. The focus of this advocacy training will be Farm to Cafeteria and related Farm Bill policy targets. The advocacy skills will be applicable to state and local advocacy. The workshop content and materials will be useful for parents, students, farmers, community members, food service staff, or anyone interested in the fit between farm to school and policy.

Speakers: Margaret Krome, Michael Fields Institute, WI and National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture; Stephanie Larsen, CFSC, DC

Youth Speak Out: A Dialogue with Young Advocates

Hear from students working in high schools and communities to educate their peers about local food issues and advocate for change. They will share their stories working in dynamic youth driven programs, what they have learned and what they have been able to share with others. This will be an interactive workshop, which will allow youth and adults to discuss how to change the food reality that is perpetuated in our school system. Share insights and engage in creative strategizing of issues of food, nutrition policy, and farm to school.

Speakers: Rowan Dunlop and Anim Steel, The Food Project, MA; Youth from Eatwise, New York, California¹s Statewide Youth Board on Obesity and Philadelphia¹s Urban Nutrition Initiative

Moving Local Products through the Supply Chain

One of the biggest challenges in establishing farm to college projects is how to move product from a variety of small-scale family farms into large-scale institutional food service operations. Panelists will discuss how to work with your existing distributor or through other systems to secure consistent volumes of products (raw or processed) from local farms.

Speakers: Sam Currie, Bon Appetit Management Company; Ed Hunter, Produce Buyer for Hearn Kirkwood, MD; James Matorin, Truiit Brothers

             Evaluation Tools and Techniques

A variety of methods can be used to evaluate the impacts of farm to cafeteria programs. This workshop will explore some qualitative tools (surveys, interviews and focus group discussions) and quantitative techniques commonly used for evaluating farm to cafeteria programs, providing samples and tips on how to use these tools effectively with groups such as students, food service and farmers.

Speakers: Joanne Berkenkamp, Food Systems Consultant; Emily Martin, Johanna Poole and Sara Sytsma, Mixed Greens, MI; Gail Feenstra, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, UC Davis, CA

Developing Farm to Cafeteria Curriculum

This workshop will present innovative K-12 curricula from across the country that incorporates nutrition and health, food systems, environment and agriculture, providing students an opportunity to develop a deeper connection with food, and understand how it impacts the society and environment they live in. Presenters will explore how these curricula tie in with broader educational goals, how they can be integrated across disciplines and fulfill state educational standards.

Speakers: Antonia Demas, Food Studies Institute, NY; Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead, IL; Ariel Demas, Food Studies Institute, MD

5:30 - 7:00  National Farm to School Network Meeting

A meeting of the National Farm to School Network - an initiative coordinated by the Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition. Following a one-year planning process supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2005-06 to identify the potential for the network, and priorities for activities, a proposal for funding was submitted and we are presently awaiting a response. Meeting agenda includes updates on the status of funding for the network, program updates from around the country, next steps and plans for the future.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18  FARM BILL POLICY          

9:00 -11:00 Plenary: Seeking Balance in the Next Farm Bill

Every five years the Farm Bill provides the most important opportunity to shape the nation’s food system through federal farm and nutrition policy. This plenary will feature two panels. The first panel will provide an overview of the 2007 Farm Bill, and a description of the policy platforms of the CFSC and its partners to support healthy farms, food, and communities. The second panel representing diverse urban and rural communities will provide important perspectives on these policy goals. Senate Agriculture Committee staff will present an analysis of the state of the Farm Bill in Congress, and provide suggestions for how we can best move forward in the current political climate.

Panel One: Thomas Forster, CFSC, DC; Allen Hance, Northeast Midwest Institute, DC; Max Finberg, Alliance to End Hunger DC; Jimmy Daukas, American Farmland Trust, DC; Ferd Hoefner, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, DC; Savi Horne, Landloss Prevention Project, NC

Respondent Panel: Kathy Ozer, National Family Farm Coalition, DC; LaDonna Redmond, Institute for Community Resource Development, IL; Shana McConway-Davis, DC Hunger Solutions; Susan Roberts, Food and Society Fellowship Program, IA

11:15 - 12:30 Workshop Session 6

Reauthorizing and Expanding the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program

2007 marks the 10th year of Community Food Project (CFP) grants, funding some of the most innovative work in community-based food system across the US. During the upcoming Farm Bill the CFP must be reauthorized. Come hear about what CFSC, CFP grantees and other partners propose for expansion of the CFP program to accommodate the demand for more and larger projects that are win-win-win for farmers, consumers and communities.

Speakers: Mark Winne, CFSC, NM; Liz Tuckermanty, USDA CSREES; Hugh Joseph, Tufts University, MA; Rhonda Perry, Missouri Rural Crisis Center

             Linking Local and State with Federal Policy

Increasingly it is municipal and state level innovation that guides the healthy local food policy world. The food policy council and food system networks of the country are helping to make the connection. State legislatures are beginning to enact supportive legislation. The net effect of local and state policy innovation is having an impact on the farm bill debate.

Speakers: Fern Gale Estrow, New York City Food Systems Network; Leslie Levine, National Conference of State Legislatures, CO; Sylvia Kantor, Seattle-King County Food Policy Council, WA

Toward a More Just and Equitable Farm Bill: Integrating Healthy Food with Family Farm, Food Justice, Farmworker and Socially Disadvantaged Producer Needs

Historic discrimination in farm programs and access to conservation and other federal resources, the needs of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and the plight of farmworkers are issues that have been underrepresented in past Farm Bills. Come find out how the issues of society’s most vulnerable food system stakeholders are being incorporated in new and stronger coalitions with a more receptive Congress. Learn about the policy goals of the Diversity Initiative, the Food and Farm Policy Project and policy organizing of communities of color.

Speaker: Lorette Picciano, Rural Coalition, DC

             Politics of the Farm Bill – the Big Picture

The collapse of the WTO negotiation on agriculture, the rise of biofuel as a national energy issue, rising food born illness and obesity, food deserts, private sector concentration in the food sector, climate change and disaster preparedness. These are just some of the larger forces impacting the Farm Bill debate. Find out what the macro issues are, including limits of the federal budget, the legislative power of special interest groups, and trade-offs likely in the Farm Bill.

Speakers: Kathy Ozer, National Family Farm Coalition, DC; Molly Anderson, Farm & Food Policy Project, MA; Mathew Porterfield, Harrison Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, DC; Scott Marlow, Rural Advancement Fund International, NC

Federal Food and Farm Policy Advocacy 101: Basic Skills Needed To Be a Successful Advocate

CFSC policy staff will organize advocacy skill building workshop to help participants prepare for their Monday Hill visits. The focus of this second advocacy training will be on the Community Food Security Coalition, Food and Farm Policy Project and Diversity Initiative policy targets for the Farm Bill. The workshop content and materials will be useful for farmers, community food advocates, youth and other conference participants preparing for their visits to members of Congress on Monday, March 19.

Speakers: Steph Larsen, CFSC, DC; Deb Eschmeyer, National Family Farm Coalition, OH; Shana McDavis-Conway, Food Research Action Center, DC

             Nutrition/Health Affinity Group

Affinity Group meetings are scheduled during workshop sessions on Sunday to allow conference participants to coordinate advocacy strategies, including messages on specific Farm Bill policy priorities, in preparation for Monday's visits to Congressional offices in DC. Meetings are planned for Nutrition and Health, Urban Food, Youth, Farm to Cafeteria, Outreach and Diversity, and the Northeast Region. Additional space is available for ad hoc Affinity Group meetings to be organized.

             Urban Food Affinity Group

Affinity Group meetings are scheduled during workshop sessions on Sunday to allow conference participants to coordinate advocacy strategies, including messages on specific Farm Bill policy priorities, in preparation for Monday's visits to Congressional offices in DC. Meetings are planned for Nutrition and Health, Urban Food, Youth, Farm to Cafeteria, Outreach and Diversity, and the Northeast Region. Additional space is available for ad hoc Affinity Group meetings to be organized.

2:00 - 3:15  Workshop Session 7

             The Nutrition Title: Priorities, Possibilities, and Changes

What are the anti-hunger community’s priorities for the Farm Bill? What is the common ground between the National Anti-Hunger Organization, food banks, and the community food, family farm, and public health communities? Find out how the 2007 Farm Bill process is presenting opportunities and challenges for traditional and new coalitions.

Speakers: Bill Ayres, World Hunger Year, NY; Sharon Thornberry, Oregon Food Bank; Stacie Dean, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, DC

Health and the Farm Bill: How has Health Become an Important Driver in the Current Farm Bill?

The voice of the nutrition and public health communities has historically focused on the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill. With increasing media coverage and consumer concern about diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes, and the increasing occurrences of food-borne illnesses, these communities are looking beyond the Nutrition Title to explore possible policy solutions. In this workshop, presenters will address ways in which the Farm Bill can better balance the needs of farmers and the health needs of consumers.

Speakers: Linda Berlin, University of Vermont; Fern Gale Estrow, New York City Food Systems Network; Joy Johanson, Center for Science in the Public Interest, DC

             Urban Food System Issues in the Farm Bill

This farm bill has an unprecedented coalition working on the way the Farm Bill connects to urban communities, covering urban agriculture, planning, infrastructure, retail food access and much more. In many urban congressional districts, the demand is growing for urban food system development and Congress appears to be paying attention. Come find out more about how cities are shaping farming systems and policy. 

Speakers: Betsy Johnson, American Community Gardening Association, MA; Bob Lewis, NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets; James Johnson Piett, The Food Trust, PA

             Local/Regional Food Systems Research and Assessment

Research findings on how local food systems can benefit the economy, farm viability, food access and health, the environment and energy needs are essential to justifications of increased taxpayer funding through new policy. New coordination of formal and informal research has been part of the collaboration on food and farm policy. Hear about the kinds of research underway that is available or soon to be available in support of local and regional food systems development.

Speakers: Molly Anderson, Food & Farm Policy Project, MA; Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center, MN; Paula Jones, San Francisco Food System Alliance; Mari Gallagher, Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group, IL

             Framing Your Policy Message

Conveying your policy concerns to the public, policymakers, and the press takes a special knack these days. Fortunately, a substantial amount of research about food systems and policy has been conducted that will help you communicate your message persuasively and effectively. The workshop will share the findings of this communications research and prepare you to explain why and how public policy must be changed to secure a more just and sustainable food system for everyone.

Speakers: Mark Winne, CFSC, NM; Nicole DeBeaufort, Headwaters Group, MN

             Youth Affinity Group

Affinity Group meetings are scheduled during workshop sessions on Sunday to allow conference participants to coordinate advocacy strategies, including messages on specific Farm Bill policy priorities, in preparation for Monday's visits to Congressional offices in DC. Meetings are planned for Nutrition and Health, Urban Food, Youth, Farm to Cafeteria, Outreach and Diversity, and the Northeast Region. Additional space is available for ad hoc Affinity Group meetings to be organized.

             Farm to Cafeteria Affinity Group

Affinity Group meetings are scheduled during workshop sessions on Sunday to allow conference participants to coordinate advocacy strategies, including messages on specific Farm Bill policy priorities, in preparation for Monday's visits to Congressional offices in DC. Meetings are planned for Nutrition and Health, Urban Food, Youth, Farm to Cafeteria, Outreach and Diversity, and the Northeast Region. Additional space is available for ad hoc Affinity Group meetings to be organized.

3:45 - 5:00  Workshop Session 8

             New Regionalism in US Agriculture

With the rise of food policy councils and food systems networks linking cities, states and regional production systems, there are many innovations to create value chains so regions can better feed population centers. Find out just how new urban-rural coalitions are building on these innovations to propose regional pilots projects for local food procurement, retail food access, marketing infrastructure and more.

Speakers: Pam Roy, Farm to Table, NM; John Fisk, Wallace Center, Winrock International, VA; Kathryn Ruhf, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, MA

Where Are We Failing to Engage People in the Policy Process?
The community food security and food justice movements have begun to bring new voices into the national farm and food policy process, but there are still many who are excluded from this process. Join grassroots organizers and policy staff of national organizations to better understand where voices of those who are most impacted by federal farm and food policy need to be better heard. This workshop will explore effective how we collectively organize ourselves to follow the necessary leadership of marginalized people most severely impacted by our nation's food policies.
Speakers: Thomas Forster, CFSC, DC; Hank Herrera, NY Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SAWG); LaDonna Redmond, Institute for Community Resource Development, IL

Student and Youth Organizing for the Farm Bill:

Student and youth voices from across the country are mobilizing for a more equitable and just food policy. Youth and representatives of policy organizations working with youth will describe this work and what youth are planning for outreach and action in the upcoming Farm Bill. Special attention will be given by presenters to informing the advocacy efforts of both college and high-school age youth at the conference.

Speakers: Amanda Wagner, FoodChange Consultant, PA; Nathan Forster, University of Oregon Farm Bill Campaign; Jessie Dowling, CFSC, DC; Aimee Witteman, Food and Society Fellowship, DC

             Northeast Region Affinity Group

Affinity Group meetings are scheduled during workshop sessions on Sunday to allow conference participants to coordinate advocacy strategies, including messages on specific Farm Bill policy priorities, in preparation for Monday's visits to Congressional offices in DC. Meetings are planned for Nutrition and Health, Urban Food, Youth, Farm to Cafeteria, Outreach and Diversity, and the Northeast Region. Additional space is available for ad hoc Affinity Group meetings to be organized.

6:30 - 9:00  Dinner at Johns Hopkins University

Located on The Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus, the Charles Commons complex opened with great excitement and fanfare in the fall of 2006. The mixed-use facility houses more than 600 students in two high rise buildings. In addition, the complex includes the Charles Commons Conference Center as well as Nolans, a retail dining and student activity venue. As the Aramark Executive Chef on the Homewood Campus, Michael Gueiss has taken a strong leadership role in developing campus dining menus that highlight local, seasonal foods. The program at Hopkins is in its first year and has proven to be popular with the campus community.

Please meet in hotel lobby at 5:30pm for bus transport to dinner event.

MONDAY, MARCH 19  LOBBY DAY

8:00 am      Buses leave for Washington from the Lord Baltimore Hotel. Box breakfasts will be provided.

9:00 - 10:00 Buses arrive at the Stewart Mott House on Capitol Hill for luggage drop and final briefing.

10:00 - 5:00 Congressional visits. Lunch on your own. Snacks and beverages provided throughout the day at the Mott House for rest and refueling.

Please note: Steph Larsen (202-701-8151) is coordinating hill visits and volunteers will be collecting visit tracking forms during the day at the Mott House. If you do not have time to fill out the forms during the day, please send your notes from the visits you make to steph@foodsecurity.org. There will be forms and more information at the policy table at the conference.

For more information, please refer to the Lobby Day Information materials in your registration packet.

5:00 – 7:00  Community Food Projects 10th Anniversary Reception