Celebration of Local Food, Sustainable Agriculture

    SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With heightened

concerns about rising food costs and the impact of industrial food systems

on the environment and health, more people are vowing to eat their zip

code. This regional food focus will be among major emphases addressed at

Slow Food Nation this weekend, where food, health and agriculture experts

from across the country will make the case that this is a trend we can't

afford to lose.

    Food and Society Policy Fellows (fellows), funded by the W.K. Kellogg

and Fair Food Foundations, are leaders in food and agriculture from across

the United States. Current and graduated fellows listed below will be among

the experts at Slow Food Nation and are available for interview to discuss

the economic, public health and environmental benefits regional food

systems bring to the table.

    For more information about the fellows visit

http://www.foodandsocietyfellows.org.

    Zoe Bradbury, farmer and advocate, Oregon

    Bradbury can discuss the importance of cultivating and supporting a

next generation of farmers for securing a vibrant regional food system in

the U.S.

    Chef Ann Cooper, renegade lunch lady, California

    Chef Ann can discuss how changing district spending policies,

commodity- based food service organizations, political platforms with no

mention of school food or child health -- and ultimately the USDA -- can

ensure that kids everywhere have wholesome, nutritious, delicious food at

school.

    Arnell Hinkle, RD, MPH, CHES, registered dietician and public health

nutritionist, California

    Hinkle, a former organic farmer and restaurant chef, can discuss the

need to increase availability of affordable fresh, healthy, locally grown

foods in low-income communities of color as well as related cultural,

economic and public policy issues.

    Deborah Kane, sustainable foods advocate, Oregon Kane, the vice

president of food and farms at Ecotrust, can discuss the policy and

community considerations, including farm-to-school initiatives, bio-

regional initiatives and supply-chain management, which can make abundant,

affordable and healthy food systems a reality.

    Anna Lappe, author and global food advocate, New York

    Lappe, author and co-leader of the Small Planet Institute, can discuss

sustainable farming and the globalization of food systems, food security

and social movements, genetically modified foods and organic trends, and

issues related to youth and health.

    Mas Masumoto, farmer and author, California

    Masumoto can discuss issues related to organic and sustainable farming,

immigration reform and sharing the "story" of family farms.

    Anne Mosness, sustainable fishing advocate, Washington

    Mosness of the Go Wild Campaign can discuss the political,

environmental and economic impacts of fish farming in coastal waters.

    Angie Tagtow, registered dietitian and environmental nutritionist, Iowa

Tagtow can discuss issues related to community-based food systems,

ecological approaches to food and health, public health nutrition and the

connection between healthy soil and healthy people.

    Bryant Terry, author and chef, California

    Terry can discuss cooking education that supports good health; youth

food justice activism; and the health, environmental, cultural and economic

impact local food systems make in urban communities.

    Mark Winne, author and fair food advocate, New Mexico

    Winne can discuss social justice issues related to the Slow Food

discussion, in particular, avoiding elitism in the movement toward fair

food.