From Farm to Feast: How chefs, farmers, and artisans strengthen our community

Learn about the wonders of local food and sample the products of local chefs, farmers and artisans

Jered Lawson, Farmer and Owner, Pie Ranch
Ari Derfel, Back to Earth Catering
Sibella Kraus, Sustainable Agriculture Education
Peggy Smith, Co-owner, Cowgirl Creamery
Joan Simon, Full Plate Restaurant Consulting - Moderator

Chefs, farmers, advocates and food artisans are crafting a new, localized food system through their businesses. From farm to pie shop, through working to convert county parks to places of food production, and by providing local food alternatives, our panelists will inspire you with their passion and dedication toward increasing our access and knowledge of local foods.

This program is part of Eat Local Month in the Bay Area. October is harvest time as well as Eat Local Month in the Bay Area. In one of the most abundant local food economies in the country, we are fortunate to be able to take one month and devote it to the sensations of the season. In celebration of this nationwide movement, The Commonwealth Club is hosting a series of timely programs on the social, economic and environmental benefits of supporting local food producers.

In addition to inviting people to eat locally grown foods as much as possible during October (visit http://www.eatlocalsf.org for more details), the planned four-part series at The Commonwealth Club will include three seminars, including how local governments are affected (October 1); how water is challenging our local food supply (October 8), and how advocates for healthier eating are affecting the local-foods equation (October 22). In addition, the Club will sponsor a panel of experts at the Ferry Building (October 15) discussing how farmers and professional chefs are collaborating to build stronger and more sustainable communities; this panel discussion will be accompanied by a tasting of local food and wine.

Eat Local Month is brought to you by The Commonwealth Club Bay Gourmet Forum in association with Eat Local SF, Community Alliance for Family Farmers, and Buy Fresh Buy Local.