[OKC] FW: Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food conference

[Shauna Lawyer Struby]

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food conference seeks to educate growers,
administrators and the public about local, sustainable food 

 

EL RENO, Okla - Agriculture has always been big business in Oklahoma, but
the nature of that business is changing. As consumer interest in local food
and organics has increased, farmers are changing their business plans to
include direct marketing and sustainable growing methods. A conference and
gala dinner organized by the Great Plains RC&D seeks to educate growers,
consumers and agriculture agency employees about the changing face of
agriculture so they can get involved. 

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food conference and gala will be July 1 at
Redlands Community College in El Reno. The conference will have three
tracks: marketing, growing and Farm to School. According to the event's
organizer, Larry Wright, the idea behind this approach is to appeal to a
broad range of interested parties.

"Government agency officials and extension agents will be one section of our
audience, but so will growers and individuals who want to raise crops and
learn more about sustainable agriculture," he says. "Then we are offering a
separate Farm to School track that will help education administrators and
cafeteria workers understand how to buy local food and how use fresh
vegetables."

Presenters for the marketing tract include representatives from the Food and
Agricultural Products Center, the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, farmer's
markets, rural development programs and Urban Agrarian. Information will
also be presented about third party certification and food safety
regulations. The growing tract will include topics such as season extension
through hoop houses, plasticulture, soil health and organic farming. 

The keynote address will be delivered by USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen
Merrigan, who is leading a "Know Your farmer, Know Your Food initiative on a
national level. 

Matt Burch with Urban Agrarian-a business connecting local, sustainable
farmers with consumers in the Oklahoma City metro-says he hopes the
conference will encourage new growers. 

"Our farmers' market sales have more than doubled since last year," he says.
"Demand isn't my problem right now, its supply. When it comes to the most
popular crops, I can sell as much as someone can grow for me." 

Wright hopes that consumer enthusiasm will be on display later in the
evening at the gala dinner, which will take place at the historic Darlington
Indian Agency near El Reno. The gala is an opportunity for consumers and
producers to kick up their heels and celebrate local agriculture together. 

An all-local meal prepared by Oklahoma City chef Kamala Gamble will be the
main attraction, but there will also be music provided by Damon Jackson, an
eclectic band with local food ties. Square dancing, wine tasting and
opportunities to meet and purchase food from local farmers will round out
the evening. 

The registration deadline for the conference and gala is June 19. Conference
registration is $20, gala tickets are $25 and a ticket that includes both
events can be purchased for $40. More information is available online at
www.GreatPlainsRCD.org or by calling 580-832-3661. 

###

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainableokc.org/pipermail/okc-sustainableokc.org/attachments/20100528/65661a72/attachment.htm>