Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1025
Lyons, NE - On June 2-4, 2016, more than 1,500 people will converge in Madison, Wis., for the 8th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. The biennial event, hosted by the National Farm to School Network, is the only national gathering of farm to cafeteria professionals working to break down barriers to sourcing healthy, local food for institutional cafeterias and connect communities and children to where their food comes from.
The 2016 conference theme, Moving Forward Together, will highlight innovative partnerships to build momentum and ensure long-term sustainability for local food efforts nationwide. Cafeterias in schools and early care sites, colleges and universities, hospitals, prisons and other institutional settings serve tens of millions of Americans every day, placing the farm to cafeteria movement at the forefront of the fight to end obesity and strengthen local food systems.
“The Center for Rural Affairs has worked closely with the National Farm to School Network to champion the Midwest Region’s efforts,” says Sarah Smith Nebraska Farm to School Lead and Community Organizer with the Center for Rural Affairs. “The Center for Rural Affairs works to connect farms to schools in Nebraska and in the region by offering trainings, resources, connections, and best practices. We focus on rural schools participating in Farm to School, and how that participation can make our small towns more vibrant.”
Held at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Convention Center on the shores of Lake Monona, the event will include nearly 50 skill-building workshops, dynamic keynote speakers, engaging short courses, local field trips to innovative farm to cafeteria sites and numerous networking events.
Attendees of the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will learn best practices, network with like minded communities and bring home creative solutions that will help to nourish people and the economy.
“Changing the way we think about food is a collective effort. We want Nebraska’s food producers, schools, institutional buyers, and committed community members to join us in Madison on June 2-4,” concluded Smith. “We’ll be there sharing what is happening in Nebraska and hosting the midwest region. This is a great opportunity to learn and be inspired by national efforts!”
Register by May 16, 2016. Learn more at http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org.
