Paleo Memphis

I just got notified of this and wanted to share. Here’s the press release I received:

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, January 3, 2012 – The second annual Farm to Table Conference for Mid-South Producers will take place on February 6, 2012 from 8 AM to 5 PM at the Memphis Bioworks Foundation Conference Center.  The conference is designed to provide a forum for farmers, consumers, entrepreneurs and other interested groups to discuss ideas for developing the local food system of Memphis and the Mid-South.   

The Farm to Table Conference for Mid-South Producers was established with the vision that a thriving local food system will strengthen farmer livelihoods by connecting more farmers to local consumers; will improve access to fresh produce and increase healthy food consumption; and will stimulate economic development and job creation in the region. 

The 2012 conference will feature sessions on a variety of important topics for the local food system – from marketing produce to grocery stores, schools and restaurants, to vegetable production, community supported agriculture, new farm start-ups, and food policy.  A networking lunch will provide attendees the chance to further develop relationships and collaborative opportunities. 

Presenters and panelists include farmers from the local farmers market, like Arkansas DeltaMade, Newman Farms, Olive Hill Community Growers, representatives from Urban Farms and Whole Foods Market, and Tony Geraci, Executive Director of Child Nutrition for Memphis City Schools.  

The conference is sponsored by Slow Food Memphis, Healthy Memphis Common Table, Whole Foods Market, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and the AgBioworks Regional Initiative of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation.  Event organizers include representatives of GrowMemphis, Urban Farms, Farm Girl Food Gardens, Green Leaf Learning Farm at Knowledge Quest, Delta Sol Farm, and BioDimensions.  

For more information on the 2012 Farm to Table Conference for Mid-South Producers, including registration, please visit www.growmemphis.org or Facebook at ‘Farm to Table Conference for Mid-South Producers’.   For questions, contact Josephine Alexander, at josephine@tubbycreekfarm.com.

 For more information on sponsors and organizers, here are links to their websites:

• AgBioworks Regional Initiative – www.agbioworks.org
• BioDimensions - www.biodimensions.net
• Community Foundation of Greater Memphis - www.cfgm.org 
• Delta Sol Farm - www.deltasolfarm.com 
• Farm Girl Food Gardens - www.facebook.com/farmgirlfoodgardens
• Green Leaf Learning Farm at Knowledge Quest – www.kqmemphis.org 
• GrowMemphis - www.growmemphis.org
• Healthy Memphis Common Table - www.healthymemphis.org
• Slow Food Memphis – www.slowfoodmemphis.com 
• Urban Farms - www.bdcmemphis.org/urban_farms.html
• Whole Foods Market – www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Here’s a schedule and some tentative topics:

SCHEDULE (tentative):

• 8:00 am - 8:30 am Registration and Light Breakfast
• 8:30 am - 8:45 am Welcome
• 9:00 am - 10:15 am Breakout Session 1
• 10:30 am - 11:45 am Breakout Session 2
• 12 noon - 12:45 pm Networking Lunch
• 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm Breakout Session 3
• 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Film Screening: “Cafeteria Man” with Q&A by Tony Geraci
• 4:45 pm - 5:00 pm Closing

SESSION TOPICS (tentative):

• Regional Branding - the Delta Made Story
• Farmer and Chef perspectives on marketing to restaurants (Panel Discussion)
• Farm to Grocer Panel Discussion
• Cooperative Marketing and Product Aggregation
• Farm to School - Getting local produce into Memphis City Schools
• What’s Growing in Memphis - Urban Ag Review (Panel Discussion)
• CSA 101 - What is a CSA and how does it work?
• Local Food Policy Round-Up
• Growing Vegetables in the Mid-South with Steve Richardson
• New Farm Start Up Panel - Three stories from young farmers
• Get $$ for your farm - NRCS Cost Share Programs
• Citizens Guide to the Farm Bill

Looks like you can buy tickets here if you’re interested in going.