Please join us for this day-long conference presented by Penn State Cooperative Extension - Lehigh and Northampton Counties.  We will be focusing on Lehigh Valley agriculture for producers, farmers, agri-business representatives, local officials, consumers, community advocates and anyone interested in the “growing” future of our region.

8:45-9:00  Registration

9:00-9:30  Welcome  Remarks 

                                The Honorable Don Cunningham, Lehigh County Executive

                                The Honorable John Stoffa, Northampton County Executive

                                 Bob Leiby  Penn State Lehigh County Extension

                                     census report / trends / a brief synopsis of farming diversity in the Lehigh Valley

9:30-10:15   Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman   Cornell University Extension

                  Community Development Coordinator- Community and Rural Development Institute

                  Associate Director - Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

                                 Local and Regional Food Systems:  Impacts and Opportunities

 10:15-10:45    Tianna Dupont  Penn State Lehigh County Extension

                                 Growing Growers—The Seed Farm: An Agricultural Incubator for Beginning Farmers

                                 Meeting the Need for New Producers in the Lehigh Valley

10:45-11:00     BREAK

11:00-11:30     John Berry  Penn State Lehigh County Extension

                                 Regulations, Safety and Distribution

11:30-12:00   Ann McManus   Second Harvest Food Bank

                                 Food Insecurity in the Lehigh Valley

12:00-12:45     LUNCH

12:45:1:45   Panel Discussion:  Components of the Lehigh Valley Food System

1. Emelie Swackhamer – Lehigh County Extension - community gardens

2. Denise Baarda—The Veggie Van

3. Mike Fink—Mike Fink’s Produce –Germansville

4. Lynn Prior - Buy Fresh Buy Local—Lehigh Valley Chapter

1:45-2:00     BREAK

2:00-3:00    Panel Discussion:   Into the Future - The Changing State of Lehigh Valley Agriculture

1. Ken Gehringer— Four Springs Farm, New Smithville

2. Anne and Liz  - Green Heron Farms- New Tripoli

3. Lisa Urrfer—Pappy’s Kitchen—Coopersburg

4. Pat Skrip-- Clover Hill Winery – Breinigsville

3:00-3:15  evaluation, wrap-up

For more information and to register, contact:

Lehigh County Extension

4184 Dorney Park Rd.

Allentown, PA  18014

610-391-9840

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