Everyone from school cafeteria workers to First Lady Michelle Obama seems to be talking about local food these days. But is this just an upper-middle class consumer trend, or is a long-term social movement taking root? Is it actually healthier to eat locally grown foods? What role does the food industry have in creating our current food system, and how can industry help to improve our food system?
To address these questions and more, the UMass Amherst Food Access Research and Engagement (FARE) Partnership is hosting a panel discussion on Wednesday, March 6, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The event is titled “Local Food: Cultivating an Economy, an Industry or a Movement?” and will be held in Campus Center 165-69.
Each panelist comes from a different department on campus, bringing with him or her a unique and valuable perspective on local food systems.
- Nancy Cohen is professor and head of the Nutrition Department
- Eric Decker is professor of food science
- John Gerber is professor of sustainable food and farming
M.V. Lee Badgett, professor of economics and director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA), will moderate.
The FARE Partnership convenes scholars, community partners, policymakers and students to create multidisciplinary initiatives that promote healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems, from production to consumption. This event is coordinated by CPPA, the hub of interdisciplinary public policy research, teaching and engagement at UMass Amherst.