Rain or Shine!
We are pleased to present Patty Cantrell of Regional Food Solutions for your enjoyment and education.
Location: Museum
- 2:00–2:30: Patty Cantrell's keynote presentation
- 2:30–3:30: Local food advocates and producers join Patty for a panel discussion of Michigan local food issues.
Patty Cantrell
Patty Cantrell is a community organizer and journalist, and longtime leader of the Taste the Local Difference regional food and farming program in northwest lower Michigan at the Michigan Land Use Institute. She also served as food and farming program director (8 years), managing editor (2 years), and policy specialist (2 years). Patty has done extensive work in community organizing, communications, and policy advocacy, including research, investigative reporting, journalism, editing, public speaking, conference organizing, and other outreach. Now as Regional Food Solutions, Patty's communications and consulting work focuses on the new business models, and food system services and facilities needed for stronger farms, healthier people, and more resilient regional economies. She works as a business journalist, and with clients and partners as a researcher, writer, strategic thinker, and project developer. Patty also works with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (Co-Chair of the Marketing, Rural Development, and Food Systems Committee), the National Good Food Network (Advisory Council member), and the Michigan Food Policy Council (Governor-appointed and serving with the Council's Economic Development Task Force).
Following her talk, Ms. Cantrell will be joined by local food advocates and farmers for a question-and-answer session.