Food Tank, in partnership with the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, Farm-to-Fork Program, and University of California, Davis, is excited to announce the 1st annual Farm Tank Conference at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento on September 22–23, 2016. This two-day event will feature more than 35 different speakers from the food and agriculture field. Researchers, farmers, chefs, policymakers, government officials, and students will come together for interactive panels.
The event will feature interactive panels moderated by top food journalists, networking, and delicious food, followed by a day of hands-on activities and opportunities for attendees.
Food Tank recently had the opportunity to speak with Andrea Lepore, Founder of Lepore Development, who will be speaking at the summit.
Food Tank ( FT) What inspired you to get involved in food and agriculture?
Andrea Lepore (AL): Growing up in an Italian-American family, good food was a big part of our life. Seeing a need for good food inspired me to get involved in the local food community.
FT: What do you see as the biggest opportunity to fix the food system?
AL: Access to real, healthy, local food.
FT: What innovations in agriculture and the food system are you most excited about?
AL: Small food producers.
FT: Can you share a story about a food hero that inspired you?
AL: My grandmother, who made everything from scratch, from pasta to bread to sauce.
FT: What drives you every day to fight for the bettering of our food system?
AL: I want simple and easy access to good, healthy food.
FT: What’s the biggest problem within the food system our parents and grandparents didn’t have to deal with?
AL: Climate change.
FT: What’s the first, most pressing issue you’d like to see solved within the food system?
AL: Access to healthy, affordable food for everyone.
FT: What is one small change every person can make in their daily lives to make a big difference?
AL: Shop at farmer’s markets every week.
FT: What’s one issue within the food system you’d like to see completely solved for the next generation?
AL: Food waste.
FT: What agricultural issue would you like for the next president of the United States to immediately address?
AL: Reduce the sugar subsidies and increase the healthy food subsidies.
To find out more about the event, see the full list of speakers, and purchase tickets, please click HERE. Interested participants who cannot join can also sign up for the live-stream HERE.
To join us at Food Tank’s São Paulo, Brazil, Summit in October 2016, please click HERE. To join us at Food Tank’s Chicago, IL, Summit November 16, 2016, please click HERE.
Want to become a sponsor of the Food Tank Summit? Please click HERE.
Want to suggest a speaker for one of the Summits? Please click HERE.
Want to watch videos from previous Food Tank Summits? Please click HERE.
Sponsors for this year’s Food Tank Summit in Sacramento include: Almond Board of California, Annie’s Inc., Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition, Blue Apron, Clif Bar & Company, Driscoll’s, Fair Trade USA, Farmer’s Fridge, Food and Environment Reporting Network, Inter Press Service (IPS), Niman Ranch, Organic Valley, and VegFund. More to be announced soon.
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