2012 Good Food Festival and Conference – Chicago a Success!
The 2012 Good Food Festival and Conference – Chicago was a huge success. With three days of fantastic programming culminating in the Saturday Festival, the 8th annual Good Food Festival and Conference was the place to be!
The Thursday Good Food Financing Conference kicked off the event with some of the biggest Illinois stakeholders tackling the issues of business funding. A central theme throughout the day was the need for diversity and innovation in growing Good Food in Illinois and nationally. With sessions on federal and state support of food hub infrastructure development to the growing importance of crowd sourced funding, the Good Food Financing Conference showcased the variety of approaches leading us to a more just and sustainable food system.
In addition, the conference connected food entrepreneurs with investors, and introduced the tools to starting a business and finding appropriate funding.
© Christina Noel
The Trade Show, School Food, and Food Policy Summit welcomed participants to a day focused on implementing strategies to make local, sustainable food a major focus for institutional/wholesale buyers and city and state leaders working to increase equity in food access. With presentations from some of the Good Food movement’s earliest success stories, attendees were given a roadmap to achieve success in their own endeavors to support local, sustainable food.
With a fantastic kick off on Friday night at the Localicious Party, the Good Food Festival was a jam packed celebration of Good Food. With 150 exhibitors, 17 workshops including 4 three hour Gold sessions, Chefs at Play demonstrations, and the the Kid’s Corner, families and individuals spent the entire day at the Festival.
© Grant Kessler
The Grow Your Own, Make Your Own, Preserve It!, and Good Food for Thought Speaker Series workshop tracks introduced participants to some of the hottest trends in making and growing your own food for the dedicated DIYers.
It was a fantastic three days, and we’re excited so many of your joined us!
We want to thank everyone that attended and supported the Good Food Festival and Conference. Without our wonderful sponsors, volunteers, and staff we simply couldn’t have produced such a high quality event.
Thank You!
