Special Webinar: Farmers Speak Out for a More Resilient Food System скачать в хорошем качестве

Special Webinar: Farmers Speak Out for a More Resilient Food System

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed fractures in our global food system. At the beginning, many of our region’s food banks struggled to meet sudden high demand, consumers faced empty grocery shelves, staples were scarce. Many local farmers, distributors, and aggregators quickly pivoted their operations and kept produce and other food flowing through the region, especially to those in need. But farmers are still working with ill-suited infrastructure, skilled labor shortages, erratic weather, and the uncertainty of what the new normal poses for their businesses. Further, the scourge of systemic racism has amplified these issues for farmers and food business owners of color.  How can we create a regional food system that is more resilient and crisis ready, especially in the face of global food supply disruptions?  That question will be at the heart of a Future Harvest panel discussion, led by farmers from across the Chesapeake region sharing their thoughts about the policy, infrastructure, and education reforms necessary to ensure our regional food system can withstand global shocks with thriving supply and demand for locally produced food.  Future Harvest Executive Director Dena Leibman will moderate a five-farmer panel discussing what changes need to be made in order to build a resilient, crisis-ready food system. The webinar will be interactive, include polling, and provide an opportunity for participants to enter their thoughts into an "Idea Dump" to help policymakers, investors, funders, nonprofits, academics, and others work together for high-priority changes.  Panelists: Renard Turner, Vanguard Ranch, Virginia Thelonius Cook, Mighty Thundercloud Edible Forest, Virginia MK Barnett, Open Book Farm, Maryland Emma Jagoz, Moon Valley Farm, Maryland Will Morrow, Whitmore Farm (formerly), Maryland