Just a heads up that I will be participating as a panelist at tonight’s Food Systems Network NYC Event on Local Food Distribution. It should be a great event, with Mary Cleaver from Green Table moderating and a number of folks from the local food scene on the panel. It starts at 6PM at the South Street Seaport. More details below. Hope to see you there.

About the event

New York City boasts a thriving local food restaurant scene. With over 36,000 farms that call New York State home this would seem to be a perfect marriage. Yet, restaurants, distributors, and farmers struggle to find cost effective distribution channels. What are the barriers to efficient, affordable distribution of local food to restaurants? And what are some of the innovative strategies overcoming these challenges?

Other Panelists

Olivia Blanchflower, Project Manager, Greenmarket’s Local Food Hub. The hub, launched this season, will purchase local foods from small- to mid-size farmers and provide delivery of farm fresh products to wholesale buyers across the spectrum and across the five boroughs.

Mike Kokas, Co-owner and Founder, Paisley Farms and Upstate Farms. Paisley Farm is a 25-acre farm in Tivoli, NY growing organic specialty vegetables with a focus on the needs of chefs. Upstate Farms is a distribution company that work with small producers to bring the highest quality local vegetables, fruits, eggs, meats and dairy to restaurants in New York City.

Jennifer Small, Owner and Operator, Flying Pigs Farm
Flying Pigs Farm is a small-scale, pastured livestock operation located in Washington County, New York specializing in rare, heritage breed pigs, as well as meat chickens and laying hens for eggs.

Moderator

Mary Cleaver, Founder and President, Green Table + Cleaver Co.
Mary Cleaver is a pioneer in the sustainable food movement and The Cleaver Co. is NYC’s preeminent green caterer, located in Chelsea Market replete with an intimate organic eatery, The Green Table.

When & Where

Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Time: Networking, 5:30 – 6:00 pm; Panel Discussion + Q&A, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: The Thompson Warehouse of the South Street Seaport Museum, 213 – 215 Water Street between Beekman and Peck Slip (address not on door, look for the sign!)

Please Note: There is a suggested $5 donation fee to attend this event for non-members. To become a FSNYC member visit: http://foodsystemsnyc.org/joinnow