AGRItunity Planning Committee announces keynote speaker for upcoming conference – Ben Hewitt Farmer/Author

 Ben Hewitt was born and raised in northern Vermont, where he currently runs a small-scale, diversified hill farm with his family. He lives with his wife and two sons in a self-built home that is powered by a windmill and solar photovoltaic panels. To help offset his renewable energy footprint, Ben drives a really big truck. His work has appeared in numerous national periodicals, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Gourmet, Discover, Skiing, Eating Well, Yankee Magazine, Powder, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, and Outside.


His most recent book is Making Supper Safe: One Man’s Quest to Learn the Truth About Food Safety (Rodale). It was published on June 7, 2011. From dumpster diving, to the battle over food rights, to genetically engineered salmon and the interplay between humans and the bacteria they consume, Ben explores the untold story of food safety with humor and good-natured skepticism. His first book, The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food (Rodale), was published in 2010. It tells the story of a rural, working-class Vermont community that is attempting to blueprint and implement a localized food system.

At the conference Ben Hewitt will provide a keynote address entitled, “The Future’s in the Dirt: Digging into localized agriculture and its potential to revitalize health, environment and regional economies.” He will also conduct a workshop for those who want to learn how he uses alternative energy, which he calls “Sustainable Energy for Sustainable Agriculture: The realities of solar powered food production.”
The AGRItunity Conference and Trade Show will be held at the Sumter County Agricultural Education Center at the Sumter County Fairgrounds in Bushnell, Florida on January 28, 2012. Don’t miss this exciting annual event! In addition to the keynote speech there will be 8 workshops, a large tradeshow, animal exhibits, antique farm equipment and more. Lunch is available for purchase on site from the famous restaurant the Speckled Butterbean. Pre-registration is $15 at http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu. The cost for the conference is $20 at the door if not pre-registered. For more information call (352) 793-2728 x236 or email sakelly@ufl.edu. AGRItunity is a project of the extension offices in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Pasco and Sumter counties.

Where are the Food Entrepreneurs?

On July 1, 2011 House Bill 7209 was enacted allowing individuals to prepare certain foods in their homes for direct sales to consumers.  The Cottage Food Law has finally opened doors for people to bake, can or prepare a limited amount of food products in their home kitchen with a permit or license.

This is great news at a time when people are searching for additional income and other people are searching for locally produced artisan foods!  These foods are very much needed at the Wildwood Growers' Market, to compliment the produce and crafts being sold there.

The following foods are now allowed to be prepared in a home kitchen and sold, up to $15,000 gross annual sales.
Loaf breads, rolls, biscuits
Cakes, pastries and cookies
Candies and confections
Honey
Jams, jellies and preserves
Fruit pies and dried fruits
Dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures
Homemade pasta
Cereals, trail mixes and granola
Coated or uncoated nuts
Vinegar and flavored vinegars
Popcorn, popcorn balls
 
So, food entrepreneurs out there - get cookin'!  The public is waiting for your delicious foods and the Wildwood Growers' Market would be the perfect place to sell them!  For a copy of the law or more information please call me at (352) 793-2728 x236.