Our readers know that Edible Manhattan is part of a network of magazines that share a mission of chronicling — swooning over, really — our local food and drink community. But did you know that this May, all we Edible publishers will gather in New York City for several days of shop-talking over memorable meals and meetups? Even better, you can be part of it.
On May 10 and 11, at the New School, food and drink leaders from around the United States and Canada will gather for the 2014 Edible Institute, a two-day discussion of the most important topics in the food and drink movement. In addition to the Edible publishers — representing nearly 90 communities, from Edible Vancouver to Edible Sarasota (Florida), and every delicious place in between — expect the room to be packed with wine and beer makers, food activists, agribusiness dropouts, culinary students, talks and panels by farmers, chefs, drink makers, journalists and food and drink enthusiasts (like you).
Headlining this year will be New York Times food columnist and author Mark Bittman, whose 2007 TED Talk, “What’s Wrong With What We Eat,” has garnered 2.5 million views.
Among those discussion topics during the Institute will be author Jane Black discussing how the food movement can cross class lines.
Fisherman and seafood author Paul Greenberg will discuss how small-scale fishers are saving East Coast seafood.
Food + Tech Connect founder Danielle Gould will explore the explosive food-tech space, which attracted $1.6 billion in investment last year, a 30 percent jump from 2012.
And the keynote address on the second day will be from Small Planet Institute founder Anna Lappé to speak about her Food Myth Buster series and recent Real Food Media project.
And this is just a small sample of the fun. There will be tasting interludes with Brooklyn beer, Montauk oysters and all manner of fermented stuff (kombucha! pickles! herring!). And there will be musical interludes provided by our favorite farmer-folksingers Bennett Konesni and Edith Gawler of the Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, who always get hands clapping and feet stomping with their particular brand of feverish fiddling and old-time work songs. (Watch them get a room full of Tedsters to chant African shepherd tunes.)
In addition to two days of discussions, plus food and drink tastings, attendees will have access to selected events during the weekend, from walking tours of Brooklyn’s rooftop gardens and bus trips to Hudson Valley wine country to a live Food + Tech meetup. Find the full schedule of discussions and happenings, and reserve your space, here.
