4th Annual Farm to Cafeteria Conference
March 19–21
Doubletree Hotel
Portland, OR
Farm to Cafeteria has gone the distance in the last decade, with the number of farm to school programs exploding. Local purchasing efforts in colleges, hospitals, and senior and daycare centers are also growing rapidly.
During this year’s conference, “Going the Distance and Shortening it, From Farm to Cafeteria,” you’ll have the opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities that come with the success of the movement. During the opening plenary, attendees will hear from youth about their actions to improve school meals. Another plenary will explore growers’ efforts to increase the supply of farm products to meet increasing demand.
On Saturday evening we’ll open up to the public for a reception dinner with keynote speaker, Joan Dye Gussow, who will share her perspectives on sustainable agriculture through a nutrition lens.
Conference includes: field trips to local farms, school lunchrooms and processing facilities; short courses covering topics such as grant writing and research and evaluation; 32 workshops on issues such as federal and state policy, experiential education, sustainability and economic development and sessions geared towards youth, producers, and food service providers. All food will be organic or sustainably produced and locally sourced whenever possible.
