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March 6, 2018 (Pittsburgh, PA)- The 12th Annual Farm to Table Conference returns on Saturday April 14 and Sunday April 15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. This year, the Conference will kick-off a year-round effort for Farm to Table’s “Buy Local” campaign. The Conference will feature exhibitors, speakers, local food and spirits tastings based in Western PA.
Programming has evolved with this year’s “Buy Local” theme, with an emphasis on connecting consumers and locavores to local farms, producers, and purveyors. The Farm to Table Conference provides consumers with two days of networking, tastings, and interactive programming such as seasonal cooking & gardening demonstrations, with an emphasis on the nutritional value of local, real food.
“We believe that buying local starts with developing a relationship with your food and the people who grow and produce it.” says Erin Hart, Director, Health Benefit Services, American HealthCare Group/ Founder, Farm to Table Western PA. “We’ve made the Conference more user-friendly and approachable by expanding programming to be more wide-reaching to appeal to every interest- from yoga sessions, to gardening classes, to local spirits happy hours each night. Healthy local food is for everyone and it’s our job to make that accessible to everyone, regardless of interest or income”.
In a shift in programming, organizers have replaced the Friday Night Tasting with a “Last-Call Happy Hour” on Saturday April 14, in which attendees will be invited to a tasting included in the Conference ticket price or walk-ins can score a happy hour style deal and enter for just $10. Guests are encouraged to get to know other locavores and producers in a more social, conversational setting. With a nod to conference participant, 412 Food Rescue, the Farm to Table Conference is trying to reduce food waste with this portion of the event.
On Sunday evening, the popular Farm to Flask Happy Hour, which debuted in 2016, will return to close out the Conference. Last year, over 50 local spirits and food vendors participated while a sold-out crowd enjoyed a live music by Hill Jordan and Slide Worldwide and generous tastings from some of the best producers in Western Pennsylvania.
This year, programming will take place on the main stage in the Exhibit Hall and will feature cooking demos, health & wellness talks, garden demos, and over 150 vendors; farms, restaurants, health care professionals and more. In addition to food-based programming, the Conference focuses on overall wellness and will feature exhibitors and programming focusing on mind, body, and spirit.
New to the Farm to Table Conference this year:
Last Call Happy Hour (Saturday, April 14, 2018): This event will close out the first day of the Conference. The happy hour celebrates and showcases local distilleries, wineries, and breweries as well as tasty bites from Farm to Table’s food vendors as their “last call” for the day.
New Vendors: This year, the conference has a 25% increase in vendors, from farms and food purveyors, to wellness experts to restaurants, caterers, and chefs.
Farm to Table Conference Sunday Brunch: This event is 9 am – 11 am on Sunday April 15, 2018. Registration for brunch is sold separately from Conference registration and includes the Burgh Bits & Bites Tour, a local bloody mary and tastings by select vendors. Sunday Brunch will feature more vendors, tastings, and demos than in years’ past and full meals will also be available to buy.
Popular returning programming will include:
Farm to Flask Mixology Sunday Happy Hour: This event celebrates and showcases local distilleries, breweries and wineries as well as talents from local mixologists. Past participants include: Pennsylvania Libations, The Livermore, Boyd & Blair, Wigle Whiskey, Philadelphia Distilling and Allegheny Distilling LLC/Maggie’s Farm Rum. An updated list of participants will be available mid-March.
Burgh Bites VIP Food Tour: Popular local food tour guides from Burgh Bits & Bites provide guests the opportunity for an expanded tasting and vendor preview before “doors open” the Sunday of the Conference. On Sunday, April 15, Burgh Bits & Bites ticket buyers will meet & greet the vendors in the main hall before it’s open to the public. $40 registration includes Sunday Brunch, a private tour of Exhibit Hall with expanded vendor tastings before the event opens to the public, and entrance to the Conference on Sunday.
Detailed information for all Conference programming can be found on farmtotablepa.com.
Free registration for Seniors 65+, recipients of Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP (food stamp) or WIC benefits, and teachers: Guests can register at the door or contact American HealthCare Group. All discounts are sponsored by American HealthCare Group. The free registrations include access to all Conference events, with the exception of the Sunday Brunch and the Farm to Flask Sunday reception.
Farm to Table Conference ticketing options include:
- The Whole Shebang! 2 days + both tastings – $60.00
- 2-day Conference + Sunday Night Farm to Flask Tasting – $50.00
- 2-day Conference + Sunday Brunch– $50.00
- 1-day Conference + Sunday Night Farm to Flask Tasting – $40.00
- 1-day Conference + Sunday Brunch- $40.00
- Regular 1-day Ticket, 10am-5pm – $20.00
- Regular 2-day Conference, 10am-5pm each day – $30.00
- Sunday Night Farm to Flask Tasting 4pm-6pm – $30.00
- Burgh Bits & Bites Sunday Morning Brunch– $40.00
- Saturday Night Last Call Happy Hour in Exhibit Hall– $10
- Farm to Table Supporting Consumer- $150*
- Group Registration rates for of groups 10+ (more info at farmtotablepa.com/conference)
*Farm to Table Supporting Consumers receive FREE admission to all Farm to Table of Western PA tastings and conferences.
Conference Hours:
Saturday – 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 11 am – 4 pm
Brunch 9 am – 11 am
Farm to Flask 4 pm – 6 pm
ABOUT FARM TO TABLE: Farm to Table is part of the wellness program offered by American HealthCare Group, a Pittsburgh- based health and wellness company. The Farm to Table wellness program includes Lunch & Learns, cooking demonstrations, local tastings, fruit bowls and student assemblies offered to school districts, corporations, senior groups and community organizations. For more information, visit: farmtotablepa.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN HEALTHCARE GROUP: American HealthCare Group is a boutique health care company providing wellness services in schools, employers, affordable housing communities and our own custom events.
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