The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition invites its Working Group members, network organizations, farmers, and consumers to the 2015 Road Map for the Food Economy Conference beginning with a Local Foods Day at the Legislature.

The morning's Local Foods Day at the Legislature presents an exciting opportunity to formally engage in policy change and to feature the work and projects of each WVFFC Working Group on a state level.  During this morning event, participants will learn more about food policy and issues pertaining to the 2015 Legislative Session, network with organizations and projects from across the state that are engaged in impactful local food work, and have the opportunity to visit their representatives to speak to them about proposed legislation that affects WV’s local food economy, including the Cooperatives and Farmers Market Permitting Bills.

In the afternoon, at The University of Charleston Ballroom, the fourth-annual Road Map for the Food Economy Conference will be kicked off by Mark Winne, author and food systems expert, with an inspiring keynote address to set the mood for state food policy and project development around WV food system issues in West Virginia.

Following the keynote address, Working Group Chairs will take part in a facilitated panel discussion that will highlight last year's success and opportunities for further policy & project work that will strengthen the local food movement, with the backdrop of a film series WVFFC created in summer 2014.

To close out the afternoon, participants will be divided into regional groups to meet each other and answer the question, what are the opportunities in your community for food system growth through policy change or business?

Location: West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25317

7:30am: State Capitol: Working Groups set up display tables for West Virginia Local Foods at the Legislature.

8:30am: Participant Meeting (go over day's agenda, Local Food Issues and Current Policy Work, lobbying tactics).

9:15am: Meetings with legislators and networking in the Rotunda.

11:00am: Local Food Day Resolution in one of the chambers (TBA).  

11:15am: Depart Capitol for Road Map Conference at the University of Charleston Ballroom. 

Location: University of Charleston Ballroom, 2nd Floor, Geary Student Union, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV 25314

11:45: Please arrive between 11:45am and 12:00pm.  

12:00pm: Road Map Conference Lunch at University of Charleston Ballroom.

12:15pm: Keynote Speaker Mark Winne, Food Systems Expert, Senior Advisor to the Food Policy Networks Project at the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future, and author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty 

1:15pm: 10 minute break.

1:25pm:  WVFFC Film Debut & Working Group Panel: WV Local Food Leaders, facilitated by Tom McConnell, WVU Extension Service Small Farm Center Program Leader

2:20: 10 minute break. 

2:30: Participant Activity: Where Can The Road Map Lead Your Foodshed? Facilitator TBD.

3:30pm: Closing Remarks: Commissioner Walt Helmick, WV Department of Agriculture.