Local First Arizona forges food showcase in heart of southwest gastronomic region
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Local First Arizona is offering the Arizona Good Food Forum + Expo — the state’s largest conference and sampling event for local food and agricultural businesses — in Tucson this year on Aug. 27.
Anyone with an interest in food, dining, agriculture and the environment is encouraged to attend, including chefs, restaurant owners, farmers, ranchers, tribal growers, packaged food producers, brewers, vintners, distributors, foodies, climate advocates and others eager to learn about and contribute to the future of food.
The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the El Conquistador Hotel, 10000 N. Oracle Road in Tucson.
Here is a breakdown of topics of discussion:
- The Way of Our Ancestors: Foraging, Farming & Hunting
- Serving the Desert: How to Eat the World Around Us
- Getting Paid for ‘Good’ Growing Practices
- How to Grow Food in Hotter and Smaller Places
Don Guerra of Barrio Bread, who is a James Beard award-winning Tucson baker, is the featured speaker offering his thoughts on the ideas that food has the power to create community while benefiting our planet. Mr. Guerra’s unique, naturally fermented breads promote biodiversity and drought tolerance, and enhance the nutrition and flavor profiles of our regional food supply.
In addition, the University of Arizona, Local First and other partners will share how farmers can receive thousands of dollars in funding from the Arizona Climate-Smart Practices Program and the Arizona Alliance for Climate-Smart Foods to learn how to plant native and heritage crops, reduce water consumption and market their products for growing demand.
