Grow Local OC Conference Delves into the Future of Urban Food Systems in Orange County and Beyond

November 15, 2016 | Robert Puro

On Nov. 10-11 hundreds of attendees from across Southern California and beyond showed up for the inaugural Grow Local OC Conference: The Future of Urban Food Systems held Nov. 10-11 in Orange County, CA at California State University, Fullerton to learn more about the community and economic development potential of fostering local food systems in cities.

The conference attendees were treated to lectures from the foremost urban farming experts, entrepreneurs, and community advocates in the sustainable and local food system space. Topics explored by the speakers and panelists included the role that food plays in bridging the rural urban divide, the potential for urban farming to generate community and economic capital, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs seeking funds for their local food and farming ventures, the potential for controlled environment agriculture in cities, and the power of community development initiatives to increase access to healthy, local food.

The conference provided ample opportunity for the local food champions, entrepreneurs, and advocates in Orange County to continue to strengthen their base of support to increase food access, improve health outcomes, and meet the demands of a thriving local food marketplace. Read More

Hundreds Gather at 4th Annual Seedstock Conference in San Diego to Discuss Innovation and Rise of Local Food

November 8, 2015 | Robert Puro

Pay the farmer, or pay the doctor. The responsibility of the consumer to vote with his fork. Utilizing imperfect produce in order to increase local food buying at institutions and universities. How technology gives underrepresented groups the tools to empower themselves. Indoor agriculture is on the rise, but will people let go of their love of dirt and the traditional farm image?

These were just a few of the many topics that hundreds of attendees from across the Southern California region and beyond showed up to discuss and debate at the 4th Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Innovation and the Rise of Local Food at the Rady School of Management, UCSD on November 3-4, 2015. The sold out audience was treated to lectures from the foremost experts, entrepreneurs, advocates and business minds in the sustainable and local food system space. As in previous years the conference provided ample opportunity for growers to network with buyers, entrepreneurs to connect with potential business partners and for the local food champions in the host city, in this case San Diego, to continue to strengthen their base of support to meet the demands of a thriving local food marketplace. Read More

Seedstock Conference to Highlight Confluence of Agricultural Innovation and Local Food Demand

August 19, 2015 | Robert Puro

Interested in learning from agricultural futurists, urban farmers, and entrepreneurs pushing the bounds of food access and soilless growing? Looking to meet like-minded ag entrepreneurs and urban farmers? Searching for food buyers, venture investors, or technology partners?

Then you won’t want to miss the upcoming “4th Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Innovation and the Rise of Local Food” in San Diego on Nov. 3 – 4, 2015. The event will kick off Read More

From Creating and Driving Demand for Local Food to Aquaponic Farming in the City

June 5, 2015 | Robert Puro

Creating a vibrant local food system requires that cities explore how to develop new markets for their local farmers, foster entrepreneurship and innovation as it relates to the production of food and encourage responsible and sustainable farming that benefits community, economy and environment. The development of effective food policy that advances agricultural economic development and infrastructure and fosters education about food and urban farming is also essential.

Expert speakers set to participate in the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food will dive deeply into all of the above mentioned areas, and more, to come up with solutions designed to guide Riverside and cities across the country in the development of vibrant and sustainable local food systems. The conference begins in only 6 days on June 11, 2015 at The Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, California.

The conference will cover a number of topics that will appeal to a diversity of audiences from growers and entrepreneurs to city planners, researchers and citizens interested in learning about how they can play a role in building their local food system. Select topics include:

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From Farm-to-School to Urban Aquaponics, Come Learn about the Future of Local Food at GrowRIVERSIDE!

May 29, 2015 | Robert Puro

Less than TWO WEEKS remain to REGISTER for the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference – The Future of Local Food, which begins on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at The Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, California. The conference will assist cities in examining and developing solutions to develop and strengthen their local food and urban agriculture infrastructure.

The event will feature a broad lineup of speakers ranging from urban agriculture entrepreneurs, USDA representatives from Marketing Services and Rural Development, startup business experts from the Small Business Administration, SCORE and the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training program, local food policy experts, sustainable farmers and hydroponic practitioners as well as numerous buyers and distributors of local produce.

Limited Tickets Remain! Register here: http://growriverside.eventbrite.com

The conference will cover a number of topics that will appeal to a diversity of audiences from growers and entrepreneurs to city planners, researchers and citizens interested in learning about how they can play a role in building their local food system. Select topics include:

Read More