CONFERENCE

 Friday, September 7 • Great Hall, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 

*Afternoon sessions to take place in conjunction with LSU AgCenter MarketReady Training*

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9:00AM • Where Are We Now? The Year’s Major Developments

This session will engage attendees in discussion on some of the biggest developments in the agri-culinary world over the last year including FSMA updates, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Farm Bill and more. 

Kendall Dix, Fisheries Associate, Gulf Restoration Network
Maggie Kaiser, Farmer & Food Safety Trainer, National Young Farmers Coalition
Elisa Munoz-Miller, Executive Director, New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee 
Hari Pulapaka, Chef/Owner, Cress Restaurant

10:00AM • Bridging the Gender Gap: Women Leaders in Food

Access to land, technology, financial services, education and markets in food and agriculture has not been historically equal. With the FAO identifying women as crucial for sustainable agricultural development and food security, what is the experience of those working to level the playing field? How can each sector enable more women-operated businesses and better access to opportunity throughout the agri-culinary supply chain?

Pamela Broom, Project Director, NewCorp, Inc.
Kristen Essig, Chef/Owner, Coquette
Monica Hernandez, Farmer & USDA SCORE Counselor, T. Moise Farms
Pepper Bowen, Director, Culinaria Center for Food Law, Policy and Culture

11:00AM • Meeting Consumer Priorities & the Economics of Food Transparency

The consumer demand for transparency at all steps of the food system is undeniable. How can farmers, producers, chefs and restaurateurs make this priority economically sustainable? This group discussion will incorporate voices and challenges from all levels of the supply chain following a brief overview of the consumer movement towards transparency.

Abhi Bhansali, Co-founder, City Greens
Rashida Ferdinand, Founder & Director, Sankofa Community Development Corporation
Angelina Harrison, Director of Markets, Market Umbrella
Dana Honn, Chef/Owner, Carmo
Lance Nacio, Owner & Captain, Anna Marie Shrimp Company

Noon • Lunch

1:00PM • Speed Networking: 5-minute meetings with fellow attendees with the goal of bridging sectors. Facilitated by Christine Coker, Mississippi State University 

1:30PM • Getting Local Farmers to Market: Challenges & Collaborative Solutions

We’ll explore the common obstacles retailers, schools, chefs, and markets face in securing locally-grown products and the difficulties farmers face in acquiring necessary safety certifications, business acumen, and marketing capacity to get their products sold. Incorporating voices from all steps in the food system, this discussion will establish commonalities and discern possible solutions to facilitate and ease the process.

Pepper Bowen, Director, Culinaria Center for Food Law, Policy and Culture
Tasheena Butler, Chef & Site Director, Liberty’s Kitchen
Pam Hodson, LA Farm to Table Advisor, LSU AgCenter/LA Sea Grant
Patrick Morris, Produce Director, Rouse’s Supermarkets
Donald van de Werken, Farmer, J&D Blueberry Farm

3:00PM • Regional Spotlight: The School-Based Programs Helping Feed the Future 

A session highlighting innovative school-based efforts in the region with the goal of building healthier, more sustainable, and equitable local food systems in communities.

Caryn Blair, Program Director, Market Umbrella
Christine Coker, Mississippi State University
Ronnie Morris, Engineer, ExxonMobil & Founder, WeProduceGrads
Carl Motsenbocker, Professor, LSU AgCenter