Later this month, good food system champions from across the globe will gather in Sacramento as part of the inaugural Terra Madres Americas summit. Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) will participate in the FREE festivities — and we hope you will join us!
Friday through Sunday (Sept 26th – 28th) we’ll co-host a farmers market inspired “A Taste of California” pavilion in the SAFE Credit Union, uplifting partner farmers and local food producers from across California. Come meet the producers, taste delicious foods, watch impressive cooking demonstrations, among many other activities, in the spirit of connecting across cultures and through food.
CAFF is excited to partner on our pavilion at the Slow Food Terra Madre event — a sister to the biennial event in Turin, Italy — with our colleagues at University of California (UC) Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, F3 Local, and the UC Global Climate Leadership Council to support a jam-packed agenda of activities for farmers, good food advocates, chefs, and anyone interested in learning more about your food and where it comes from.
Stop by our Demo Kitchen Stage to participate in a variety of farm-fresh tastings, talks and cooking demos (jujubes, mole, elderberry jam, kernza crackers, duck confit, etc) as well as activities elsewhere at the event including:
Thursday (9/25)
- 5:00 – 8:00pm: Opening Reception — Join us for a Slow Food USA welcome reception at Empress Tavern, along with our partners at Alchemist CDC and Roots of Change. Enjoy lamb and produce from Yolo – county producers.
Friday (9/26)
“A Taste of California” Pavilion participants throughout the day include: JAS Family Farms, 3 Feather Farms, Wise Acre Farms, Nelia’s: La Authentica Birria, Lopes Family Farm, Sierra Orchards, Lancaster Creations, Burkart Organics, Spork Food Hub, California Cloverleaf Farms, Rosa’s Mole, Just Jujubes, Rock Front Ranch, Newmark Farms, Master Food Preservers
- 9 – 10am & 1- 2pm Terra Madre Farm Tour at WeGrow Farms — Learn from farmer Nelson Hawkins about his efforts to grow on an urban farm in West Sacramento (just across the bridge from downtown Sacramento), sample some platters of delicious food from Magpie cafe, and buy produce from his farm stand. Tours will only take place during these two windows but produce is available for sale throughout the day.
- 12:30 – 1:30pm: Kitchen counter chat with food journalist Benjy Egel — Benjy is the senior food editor at the newly launched Abridged PBS/KVIE media collaborative, former food & beverage Reporter for The Sacramento Bee, and author of “Sacramento Eats: Recipes from the Capital Region’s Favorite Restaurants”. Come learn about his current work, hear his favorite recipes, and buy one of his signed cookbooks!
- 5:30 – 6:30pm: Panel: Adding value and promoting access to fair markets for agro- and sociobiodiversity products — Join CAFF’s Héctor Reider for an exciting discussion in the Agroecology Room about how to enhance the visibility and value of products that support fair trade, strengthen local economies, and the rights of farmers.
Saturday (9/27)
“A Taste of California” Pavilion participants throughout the day include: Dr. Shica’s, Blossom Bluff Orchards, Just Jujubes, Rock Front Ranch, Rosa’s Mole, Burkart Organics, Lancaster Creations, Master Food Preservers, Sierra Orchards, Madera Queen Honey, EcoFamily Farms, Good Humus, California Indian Museum, California Cloverleaf Farms, Philosopher Farms, Lopes Family Farms
- 3:30 – 4:15pm: Every Bite Matters: How Eating Shapes Agriculture — Join acclaimed author and farmer Mas Masumoto, farmer Tom Willey, grocer Brian Munn, and food tour operator Dawnie Andrak for a rich discussion on the Confluence Stage in the convention center.
- 5:00 – 8:00pm: Yuba-Sutter Farm to Fork Dinner — CAFF is proud to co-sponsor the Farm to Fork Feast in Marysville with chef Yia Yang honoring Hmong farmers and culinary traditions.
Sunday (9/28)
“A Taste of California” Pavilion participants throughout the day include: Gloria’s Shito, Angela’s Ranch, Rosa’s Mole, Burkhart Organics, EcoFamily Farms, 4-H, Madea Queen Honey, Arka Farms, Fresno BIPOC Produce, Gonzales Siemens Family Farm, California Cloveleaf Farms, Harvest Valley
- 10:30 – 11:30am & 12:30 – 1:30pm: San Joaquin Valley Harmony — enjoy celebratory bites of SJ Valley-grown foods prepared by UC Merced chefs in the “Taste of California” pavilion.