Author Judy Wicks, local food pioneer and a leader of the local living economies movement, speaks at Slow Food Northern NJ’s Annual Meeting, which features a local-foods lunch prepared by area chefs
DATE: Sunday, March 23, 2014, 1-3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: The Farm Barn at Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough, NJ
COST: $12 for members; $18 for non-members. Includes local foods lunch prepared by some of NJ’s finest chefs. Tickets in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/587977
CONTACT: Slow Food Northern NJ, slowfoodnnj@yahoo.com
DIRECTIONS: The event will be held in the Pavilion on the second floor of the Farm Barn, which houses the Orientation Center. For directions, go to www.dukefarms.org
Slow Food Northern NJ’s annual meeting is open to members and all those who would like to learn more about the Slow Food movement. The keynote speaker is author Judy Wicks, founder of Philadelphia’s White Dog Cafe. In her new book, “Good Morning, Beautiful Business: The Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer,” (Chelsea Green Publishing, Ms. Wicks recounts her transformation from owner of a small muffin shop to founder of one of the nation’s first restaurants to feature local, organic and sustainably-raised food. Under Ms. Wicks, the White Dog Cafe became a community hub where social activism thrived. Ultimately, the restaurant became a model for today’s socially responsible business movement. There will be a question-and-answer session, after which Ms. Wicks will sign books.
The event will also include the announcement of Slow Food Northern NJ’s school vegetable garden grants for 2014. In the past five years, Slow Food NNJ has awarded 25 such grants to New Jersey schools. Mark Buttner, lead teacher of Head Start in the Jersey City Public Schools Department of Early Childhood Education, will share the stories of two urban school gardens — Starting Points of Hudson County and the International Learning Center.
Following the keynote speech, participants will be updated on the latest attempts to get genetically engineered foods labeled in New Jersey.
Among the chefs preparing the local food lunch for the event are Anthony Bucco of The Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station and Dan Richer of Arturo’s in Maplewood and Razza in Jersey City, and Diane Pinder of Donna & Company Artisanal Chocolate.
MEETING AGENDA:
1-1:30 PM
Local foods lunch prepared by New Jersey chefs including
Dan Richer, Arturo’s and Razza
Anthony Bucco, The Ryland Inn
Diane Pinder, Donna & Company Artisanal Chocolate
1:15-1:30 PM
Opening remarks
Slow Food NNJ school garden program grant announcement
Margaret Noon
School Lunch Organic Farm & CSA
1:30-1:45PM
School Garden Partners
Mark Buttner, lead teacher
Jersey City Head Start Vegetable Gardens
Mr. Buttner will share insights on 2 urban school vegetable gardens
1:45PM -2:45PM
Judy Wicks. Keynote Speaker
Restaurateur, Social Activist, Entrepreneur, and Author
Judy’s recent book, “Good Morning, Beautiful Business: The Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local-Economy Pioneer”
Q & A
2:45-3:00PM
GMO Legislation Update
Julia Lawlor, Slow Food NNJ board member
Slow Food Northern NJ funds school vegetable gardens in north Jersey, and is dedicated to connecting NJ residents with earth-friendly farmers, chefs and food makers. It is part of Slow Food International, a grassroots membership organization with 150,000 members in more than 150 countries. Slow Food’s mission is good, clean and fair food for all.
GOOD:
Our food should be tasty, seasonal, local, fresh and wholesome.
CLEAN:
Our food should be produced in ways that preserve biodiversity, sustain the environment and ensure animal welfare, without harming human health.
FAIR:
Our food should be affordable by all, while respecting the dignity of labor from field to fork.
For more information, visit www.slowfoodnnj.org
NJ SPICE 