February 24, 2011 — The importance and logistics of local food procurement will be the subject of a panel discussion at the University of Virginia, to be held March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Hall at 112 Clarke Court.

The panelists – Jamie Barrett, farm manager of Bellair Farm and partner producer with the Local Food Hub; Alan Moore, Local Food Hub operations and sales manager; and Bryan Kelly, U.Va. Dining executive chef – will discuss community and health connections and their roles in U.Va. Dining's large-scale local food supply chain. They also will explore the journey locally grown food makes, from field to truck to kitchen, before it reaches students' plates.

"Due to their varied backgrounds and current professions, each panelist will likely quantify the value of local food in different ways as they share their views on the importance of local food in a community," Kendall Singleton, U.Va. Dining sustainability coordinator, said. "It is these different perspectives still working toward a common goal that enable a complex local food system to flourish."  

The evening will begin with a 30-minute documentary, "Nourish," which focuses on the ways people can learn the story behind their food and connect to their environment, health and communities.

"Individuals have a good grasp on local food purchasing outlets in our community, but this panel will shed light on the system that's in place to procure local food on an institutional level, and particularly on the role that a local distributor must play to facilitate the collaboration between the farmers and the food service and, ultimately, the consumers," Singleton said.

The event, which is sponsored by U.Va. Dining, is free and open to the public. Locally produced refreshments will be served.

For information, contact Singleton at kendall.singleton@virginia.edu.