Local Foods UGA, a forum to promote university-based local food initiatives, will be held Oct. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 123 of the Jackson Street Building.
The event, co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and the UGA certificate program in local food systems, is free and open to the public. The forum is a blue-card event for UGA students.
“Athens has such a rich local food culture, and UGA offers tremendous opportunities for students to engage in the local food movement on campus, in the community and across the state,” said Kevin Kirsche, director of the Office of Sustainability.
The forum will include sessions and panel discussions that highlight several university-related local food initiatives, including the local food systems certificate program, the UGArden campus community garden, Campus Kitchen, Athens Urban Food Collective, food-related projects offered through the Office of Service-Learning, information on internships and careers in local foods and a workshop on food preservation.
There will also be a reception featuring local foods—with a cooking and preservation demonstration by Athens chef Sal Speights of Etienne Brasserie.
“We hope to familiarize the university community with the local food systems certificate program and the career opportunities available to students interested in this field,” said Susan Varlamoff, director of the Office of Environmental Sciences.
The certificate program in local food systems at UGA provides students with a foundation for future careers or lifelong personal involvement in local food issues, Varlamoff said.
