EAST MACHIAS, Maine — The 2016 Washington County Food Summit will bring together fishermen, farmers and members of the public to discuss strengthening foods systems.
“If you eat food and are interested in healthy food, then you belong at the food summit,” Regina Grabrovac, food programs manager at Healthy Acadia, said.
The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at Washington Academy, 66 Cutler Road.
The morning will begin with keynote speaker Amanda Beal, a research and policy fellow with the Maine Farmland Trust. Her topic is “Land and Sea: Connections in our Food System.”
“She’s a person who’s been looking at the whole food system for a number of years,” Grabrovac said.
After the keynote, participants will break up into smaller groups.
“We’re going to have three small group breakout sessions with panels of five to six people,” Grabrovac said.
Those are followed by two workshops, then a single meeting in the afternoon to tie together the themes of the day.
In addition to talks and workshops, the food summit will feature 15 vendors. Among them will be groups such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Sunrise County Economic Council and sponsors such as Wyman’s and the Downeast Salmon Federation.
“I’m really excited about the food summit and all the topics we’re bringing together,” she said. “It’s our hope by creating this opportunity that we manage to strengthen the food system.”
The summit is organized by the Washington County Community Food Council, which is an organization comprised of a number of food initiatives in Washington County. The council is a part of Healthy Acadia. Funding for the summit is provided by several sponsors and the Maine Community Foundation, she said.
As of Thursday, about 90 people already registered for the summit. An advertising poster says registration closed March 1, but Grabrovac said registration is still open.
The summit is free, and lunch will be provided. A $5 donation is suggested, and proceeds will benefit Washington County food pantries.
To see the food summit agenda, visit healthyacadia.org/news/documents/FOODSUMMITAGENDAFinal2.16.16_000.pdf.