Manistee Food Revolution August 17
The "Food Revolution", as author and TV personality Jamie Oliver coined, is happening in Manistee County. And growers, retailers, restaurateurs, food distributors and consumers are invited to join in a Food Policy Council Symposium on August 17 to talk about how Manistee County, as well as other communities, can organize to support a revolution that is critical to our economy, just as it is to our health and well-being. The Symposium will be held at the West Shore Medical Center Education Center from 10 a.m. to about 1 p.m., including a networking lunch that will begin at noon provided by the Manistee Community Kitchen.
"From our growers to our farm to school programs to our new Community Kitchen and our grocery stores, restaurants and farmers markets, we have dozens of organizations and thousands of people who are involved in some way with Manistee County's food system," said Brandon Seng who manages the new Manistee Community Kitchen. "A carefully conceived Food Policy Council could help build systems and strategies that support growers and fuel the dramatically accelerating demand within and outside of Manistee County."
The guest speaker for the Symposium will be Diane Golzynski from the Michigan Department of Community Health. "Food Policy Councils are popping up all over the country to assist local communities with creating a sustainable and long term process to address the local food system. The presentation will cover the basics of why and how to start a Food Policy Council for your area", according to Ms. Golzynski. Those attending will gain knowledge and tools to begin the process in their own communities.
"A goal of our August 17 symposium is to talk about how other communities are organizing their food revolution with the support of local Food Policy Councils," said Jan Wiltse, chair of the Healthy Manistee County Coalition sponsoring this event. "We'll talk about those efforts and how they have served to organize local food systems. We'll also talk with Manistee leaders in growing, distributing, selling and preparing foods to better understand needs and priorities and the various roles and interests in forming a food policy group for Manistee County."
Food Policy Councils are being created throughout the U.S. to help communities establish win-win long-term approaches for local food growing and supply systems. Due to the importance of agriculture to Manistee County, the need to promote healthy eating and wellness and the rapidly increasing demand for locally grown products by residents and visitors alike, there is reason to believe that all would benefit from an organized food system.
Registration is open until August 12, 2011 by emailing or calling Jan Wiltse, District Health Department #10 at jwiltse@dhd10.org or 231-876-3835.
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