Summer, 1996 (v8n3)

by Dave Campbell and Gail Feenstra, SAREP

The relentless pace of global economic integration and dramatic changes in national agricultural policy are reshaping how food is produced, processed and distributed. One response to these changes has been an increasing interest in "community food systems." This approach seeks to build community within a neighborhood, city or region by implementing strategies to increase the self-reliance of the regional food economy. Across California, local collaborations are creating new ties among farmers, civic organizations, non-profit groups, consumers and elected officials.

To showcase the most innovative collaborations and to explore the many questions surrounding their development, SAREP, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Community Food Security Coalition, and the UC California Communities Program will host a conference Oct. 2-3, 1996 at UC Davis. "Community Food Systems: Sustaining Farms and People in the Emerging Economy" will feature:

• Keynote addresses that articulate why a renewed experience of community is essential to civic vitality and economic prosperity in the years ahead;
• Panel presentations of innovative community food system projects from across California, including SAREP-funded projects;
• Plenaries that describe coalitions, institutions and businesses that can promote the long-term sustainability of community food systems;
• Workshops in which to learn and share practical skills for developing community food systems;
• Time for networking and building bridges of cooperation among allies;
• Social time, food, culture and entertainment at the famous Davis Farmers' Market;
• Delicious lunches prepared from locally grown foods.

The conference is intended for a diverse audience, including representatives of community-based organizations, Cooperative Extension, farmers, university faculty, anti-hunger and food security representatives, farmers, market personnel, consumers, community gardeners, economic development planners, local government officials, religious groups, environmentalists and others interested in developing more practical and comprehensive solutions to food and agricultural problems.

Pulitzer-prize wining poet Gary Snyder will read his poetry at a luncheon featuring local foods. Invited speakers include: Sharon Junge, UC Cooperative Extension, Placer County; Mohammed Nuru, San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners; Janet Brown, organic farmer, Marin Food and Agriculture Group; Frank Tamborello, Interfaith Hunger Coalition; Bryce Lundberg, Lundberg Family Farms; Susan Temple, Fiddler's Green Farm; Don Villarejo, California Institute for Rural Studies; Doris Bloch, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; Bob Gottlieb, UCLA Department of Urban Planning; Kai Siedenburg, California Sustainable Agriculture Working Group; Ellen Rilla, UC Cooperative Extension, Marin-Sonoma counties; and Joyce Ewen, Pomona-Inland Valley Council of Churches.

Invited workshop presenters include: Lynn Bagley, Marin County Farmers Market Association; Marion Kalb, Southland Farmers' Market Association; Michael Dimock, Sunflower Strategies; Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension, Mendocino County; Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition; Susan Ornelas, Arcata Farm and Education Project; and Ken Hecht, California Food Policy Advocates.

Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers include Joan Dye Gussow, professor emeritus and former chair of the nutrition Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University; Daniel Kemmis, mayor of Missoula, Mont., former speaker of the Montana House of Representatives and author; and Fred Kirschenmann, manager of Kirschenmann Family Farms in North Dakota, a member of the National Organic Standards Board and author.

For more information and to register for the conference, contact SAREP at (916) 752-7556 or e-mail sarep@ucdavis.edu or visit the conference web site (http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu)