We’re pleased to announce the session topics and guest speakers for this year’s Good Food Forum + Expo at the Mesa Convention Center on Tuesday, August 29 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Take a peek at our agenda and secure your ticket today — before it sells out!

This Year’s Keynote Speakers

Lilian Hill, an Indigenous farmer & land steward, will explore the sacred connections between native seeds, soil, and local communities to better understand how to cultivate food systems that are environmentally resilient, culturally relevant, and socially equitable.

Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona will share how we can unite Arizona’s local food economy by building community-based food systems that foster economic development and increase access to affordable, fresh, and local food for all Arizonans.

Additional Guest Speakers

Farmers, Ranchers, & Food Producers:

• Yadi Wang – Oatman Flats Ranch & DRY Cooperative
• Scott & Christie Heartquist – Heartquist Hollow Family Farm
• Gabriel Cruz – Cruz Farm
• Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson – Hopi Farmer
• Emma Zimmerman – Hayden Flour Mills
• Karalea Wiltbank – Little Colorado Meats
• Jhonny Flores – Coldwater Coffeehouse and Bakery Cooperative
• Sara Dolan – Blue Sky Organic Farms
• Rodney Machokoto – Machokoto Family Farms
• Arnott Duncan – Duncan Family Farms

Food Policy Leaders, Advocates & Policymakers:

• Paul Brierley – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Ginger Sykes Torres – Farm Service Agency Arizona
• Amelia Flores – CRIT Tribal Council
• Kathleen Merrigan – Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems
• Kara Heckert – American Farmland Trust
• Jeff Eisenberg – Arizona Cattle Growers
• Rosanne Albright – City of Phoenix
• Sharma Torrens – Central Arizona Land Trust
• Ashley Grabb – Maricopa County Department of Public Health
• Mark Watson and Juan Escareño – Potlikker Capital
• Paul Cattelino and Erika Boyland – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Jesus M. Garcia – Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum & Mission Garden
• Dr. Gary Nabhan – Agroecologist, Author, Activist
• Colleen Hanley – Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, The University of Arizona
• Parker Filer – Pinnacle Prevention
• Erik Stanford – Pivot Produce
• Audrey Mitten-Thomsen – Phoenix Food Co-Op
• Amanda Kakharov – Dirt Capital Partners

See you at the Good Food Forum + Expo!

The Good Food Forum + Expo is an opportunity to engage with local food leaders, policy makers, farmers and ranchers, food entrepreneurs, and purveyors. Experience Arizona’s finest foods and ingredients, identify options for sourcing locally, and build relationships with the people behind Arizona’s local food economy. Deepen connections and sample a taste of local Arizona from over 80 food businesses! We hope you’ll join us!

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