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Santa Monica Farmers Market.  Photo Courtesy of Muy Yum

The Good Food Festival and Conference is coming up next week and I can’t tell you how excited I am about this event.  The festival  will showcase locally and sustainably produced food and innovative leaders from the good food movement.  It has also teamed up with FamilyFarmed.org and will focus on building local food systems and supporting California fams.

The Festival takes place at Santa Monica High School and $10 gets you through the door. Can’t beat the price! Scroll down for more information and conference schedule.

Good Food Festival and Conference Schedule: 

Santa Monica Farmers Market
Arizona Ave at the Third Street Promenade
Wednesday, September 14 
Market hours 8:30am – 1:30pm
Chef Demo with Amelia Saltsman and Friends 10:00am – 1:00pm
 
Santa Monica Farmers Market: Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmers Market Cookbook, will kick off the Good Food Festival and Conference with cooking demos at the renowned Wednesday Farmers Market, joined by friends Suzanne Goin (Lucques, AOC, Tavern), Roxanna Jullapat (Cook County),  Lindy & Grundy, and farmers Jerry Rutiz, Mike Cirone and Marcie Jimenez. 
   
The Harvest, Good Food Film Series
Aero Theater (1328 Montana Ave.)
Wednesday, September 14
7:30pm – 10:00pm
Tickets will be available at the event
 
Screening of The Harvest/La Cosecha, a new documentary that provides an unvarnished view of child and migrant labor in the United States food system. The film will be followed by a conversation moderated by Slow Food LA’s Lisa Lucas Talbot about the labor issues that are invisible to most consumers’ eyes but are critically important to any conversation about making our food system fairer and safer. Produced by Eva Longoria.
WPA Art Opening
Art Gallery on the campus of Santa Monica High School
Thursday, September 15
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Free, but reserve your place online
 
Rediscovered Gems: WPA Agricultural Art, an art exhibit featuring remarkable but rarely exhibited paintings created by Works Project Administration Artists during the 1930’s. California State Senator Fran Pavley will deliver the opening remarks.
 
Opening Symposium
Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School
Thursday, September 15
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Free
The celebration of the Santa Monica Farmers Market 30th Anniversary kicks off officially with this evening of market retrospective and discussion moderated by KCRW’s “Good Food” host Evan Kleiman. Coming together for this special night will be leading farmers, world-class chefs, political leaders, and local and national good food business leaders. Special guests include Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Laura Avery, Santa Monica Farmers Market, Mayor Richard Bloom, City of Santa Monica, Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Mark Peel, Campanile, Amelia Saltsman, author of Santa Monica Farmers Market Cookbook, Will Allen, Father Greg Boyle and Alex Weiser of Weiser Family Farms.
Food Policy and Public Health Summit
Santa Monica College
Friday, September 16
9:00am – 5:00pm
$45 – Admission includes “What’s Working in School Food” and Good Food Trade Show. Scholarships & transportation available courtesy of The California Endowment and The Annenberg Foundation.
 
Leaders come together for discussions about food, public health, and public policy. Speakers include Chipotle founder and CEO, Steve Ells; California Endowment CEO Dr. Robert Ross; Los Angeles Senior Advisor on Food Policy, Paula Daniels, and leading educators, policymakers, farmers, and Good Food advocates. The day also includes the School Food Focus Showcase, to educate suppliers, health providers, and food service professionals in school districts about procurement practices and to link stakeholders with more healthful, regionally sourced and sustainably produced food.  
   
Good Food Trade Show
Quad at Santa Monica College
Friday, September 16
12pm – 5pm
$45 – Admission includes “What’s Working in School Food” and Food Policy and Public Health Summit.
Farms, food businesses, and distributors that offer Good Food will exhibit and meet with supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, schools and other buyers of local and sustainable food to build buying relationships.
 
Localicious Gala, 30 Years, 30 Chefs, 30 Farmers
Celebrating 30 Years of the Santa Monica Farmers Market
Annenberg Community Beach House
Friday, September 16
7:30pm – 10:00pm
$125.00 per ticket
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Santa Monica Farmers Market at an outdoor beach-front gala featuring 30 of L.A.’s best chefs paired with 30 market farmers to taste signature dishes that showcase the freshest and best of the season. Enjoy craft brewed beers, local wines, a silent auction and 30-course grazing menu at the beautiful Annenberg Community Beach House.    Capacity is limited.   Booking early is advised. http://www.goodfoodfestivals.com/
 
Localicious VIP Reception
Annenberg Community Beach House
Friday, September 16
6:30pm – 7:30pm
$250 per ticket
VIP tickets are available for a special champagne reception. At this intimate gathering you will mingle with our participating chefs and distinguished Localicious honorees.  Valet parking and chef contributed gift bag are included in this unique experience.
 
Festival and Street Fair
Santa Monica High School (601 Pico Blvd. -Entrance on 4th St) 
Saturday and Sunday September 17 – 18
Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday    10:00 am – 5:00 pm
$10 – Admission includes “Chefs at Play,” “Good Food For Thought Speaker Series” and  “Grow Your Own” workshops.
Watch “Chefs at Play” cooking demos by California’s best chefs, including Sang Yoon (Father’s Office, Lukshon), Evan Kleiman (Angeli Caffe), Sherry Yard and Eric Greenspan (Spago), Mark Peel (Campanile), Suzanne Goin (AOC, Lucques, Tavern), Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill),CJ Jacobson (The Yard), Ian Hall (Gorbals), Nancy Silverton (Mozza)  and Ann Gentry (Real Food Daily) who will be featuring fresh produce from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, hosted by Nathan Lyon (Discovery Health’s “A Lyon in the Kitchen”).

Sample farm fresh food from farmers, artisan food producers, restaurants and the most earth friendly food trucks in town. Participate in exercise activities for kids and adults. Good Food Movement national and local leaders will present a variety of thought provoking panels during the “Good Food for Thought” Speaker Series. Discover how to raise backyard chickens, grow your own vegetable garden, make homemade jams & pickles, watch expert bakers and chefs whip up seasonal delights and much, much more during our  “Grow Your Own” and “Master Food Preservers” workshops. Bring the kids, there’s something for everyone! 

Saturday, September 17
10:30am  – 11:30am Sang Yoon (Father’s Office, Lukshon) & Evan Kleiman (Angeli Caffe)
12:00pm – 1:00pm Sherry Yard & Eric Greenspan (Spago)
1:30pm – 2:30pm Mark Peel (Campanile)
3:00pm  – 4:00pm Suzanne Goin (AOC, Lucques, Tavern)

Sunday, September 18
10:30am – 11:30am Susan Feniger & Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill)
12:00pm – 1:00pm  CJ Jacobson  (The Yard) and Ilan Hall (The Gorbals)
1:30pm – 2:30pm  Nancy Silverton (Mozza)
3:00pm  – 4:00pm Ann Gentry (Real Food Daily) 

The GOOD FOOD Festival is sponsored by Whole Foods, Chipotle Mexican Grille, Bon Appetit, KCRW, Applegate, Nature’s Path Organic, Beanfields, Nutiva, Organic Valley, Stonyfield Organic, Annenberg Community Beach House, and The California Endowment.  

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