Good Food is Everybody's Business
Organicology – a “portmanteau word” meaning the study of organics – is the biggest conference/trade show focused entirely on organic seeds and produce in the country. This year more than 700 people attended the three-day conference that included a trilogy of key note speakers, five daylong intensive sessions, 15 workshops, an educational (and practical) “seed swap,” winter vegetable tasting, and a trade event featuring nearly 60 vendors.
Grains – wheat, barley, rye, oats – in western Washington? Who would have thought? Somewhere back in time, the rest of the world became convinced that the only things you could grow in western Washington were mold, mildew, and ducks! Gotcha! It turns out that grains have been cultivated in Cascadia – western Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia – for more than 150 years.
The weekend started out mild and sunny and finished with a “blustery day.” Regardless of the weather – late fall sunshine or cool, brisk November overcast – the more than 650 people who attended the 2012 Tilth Producers of Washington Annual Conference enjoyed warm friendship, made new acquaintances, and dined on some of the best locally produced organic food available.
Over the last several years, GoodFood World has ventured into a number of trade events, including a number of special segments: Produce, Natural Products, Food Service, Natural Food Stores, and Farming and Organic Production. It is eye-opening to see who attends, how trends are changing, and how attitudes to food and food production vary from venue to venue, audience to audience.
In December, I was fortunate to attend the Montana Organics Association’s annual conference in Billings. As a delegate of GoodFood World, I sat in on two days worth of lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and open table discussions on a variety of topics that concern Montana’s organic community. As a consumer, this was a rare opportunity for me to witness the larger world behind organic food production and distribution. Even more importantly, I was able to meet many of the individuals who are working hard to who promote real food in our state.
For those who are trying to farm in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana, there is only one name for it – Dryland Farming. Annual rainfall levels of 8 to 16 inches mean that farmers have to be good – very good – at moisture management.
Visit a modern supermarket and what do you see? Pictures of farmers, the picket fence, the silo, the ’30s farmhouse and the green grass. Nice photos, folks, but very little of the food – and “edible food-like products” – sold there actually comes from a small family farm. In fact some of it doesn’t actually come from a farm at all, but a factory.
When you rub elbows for days with farmers of all ages, there is no doubt where your food comes from!
Provender… the simple definition is food. From October 6-8, Provender meant a gathering of hundreds of people who grow, harvest, prepare, and love good, healthy, local food. There are few events with the energy level, connection, and camaraderie that Provender Alliance’s annual conference delivered.
