Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/14/2023
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Categories
Food Justice, the Climate, and Public Health
In preparation for our conference—and for those who are unable to get to Washington this month—we invite you to this session with Pam Hess, executive director of Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture.
The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture cultivates local food systems that prioritize health, equity, and sustainability from the farm forward. The Center works in 3 program areas:
- sustainable agriculture—producing food and training military veterans farmers;
- farm and nutrition education—teaching schoolchildren to love their veggies with hands-on learning on the farm, in school, and in community gardens
- food access—overcoming barriers to healthy food in low-income neighborhoods via a network of 8 weekly Mobile Markets in Washington, D.C.
Since joining Arcadia in 2013, Pam has led Arcadia through its launch of the Veteran Farmer, now in its 7th year; the doubling of the Mobile Market fleet and a 500% increase in sales; and the expansion of field trips, farm camp, and other educational programs.
Arcadia’s custom data-gathering point-of-sale app is now in use by 150 other mobile and farmers’ markets around the country. The Arcadia Farmers Register produces previously unavailable data and insights into how low-income households use SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP nutrition benefits to feed their families. This data is then used to create and measure programs to increase the sales of nutrition-dense foods.
Pam was a plenary speaker at the USDA’s 2016 Transforming Agriculture conference, has testified to the House Agriculture Committee, and served on the Virginia governor’s Children’s Nutrition Cabinet. Arcadia is a 2022 recipient of the Harkin on Wellness award.
Pam says,
I will talk a little bit about the farm bill—and about an alternative farm bill proposed by Earl Blumenauer every year—but my strength is talking about the food system as it is, and how we are trying to make it more equitable and more sustainable. Before the layman can assess the farm bill, they need to understand the weaknesses (and strengths) of the current ag system.
To register, click here or use the booking feature below.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.