Greater Pittsburgh Food Systems Summit
Friday, May 17th at Carnegie Mellon University
Registration is now live!
PFPC is organizing our 1st ever regional food systems summit in 2024. The summit will bring together stakeholders from across the region to identify shared goals, foster cross-sector relationships, and bring more attention, engagement, and momentum to the equitable and sustainable development of our regional food system.
The event is an opportunity for attendees to…
Celebrate: regional leaders, successful collaborations, and the work of PFPC partners
Learn: how food is grown, processed, distributed, sold, eaten, along with where our system can improve
Affirm: everyone’s seat at the table, lived experience, the importance of food systems work
Act: based on new tools and resources, make plans, and forge new connections
A full schedule for the summit will be released shortly, but in the meantime, consider joining us for the following summit-related events:
Thursday, May 16th at Community Kitchen Pgh from 2-4 pm
PA Food Policy Council meeting - Anyone is welcome to join this hybrid meeting to learn about food systems priorities, news and issues across the Commonwealth
Thursday, May 16th at Community Kitchen Pgh from 4:30-7pm
Pre-summit Eat & Greet - Join us for appetizers, drinks, and some pre-summit socializing!
Friday, May 17th at Carnegie Mellon University from 8am-5pm
Pittsburgh Regional Food Systems Summit! Speaker schedule pending.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Consider sponsoring this event!
By becoming a sponsor, you will have the opportunity to not only showcase your dedication to fostering positive change in the food system, but also gain valuable exposure to a diverse audience of professionals, policymakers, and community members invested in shaping the future of our local food policies.
PFPC’s s reach is extensive and allows for your business to be seen across the region of western Pennsylvania:
1,700 plus food system partners
Over 2,000 followers on Facebook and 1,500 followers on Instagram
> Are you a corporation?
Check out the various sponsor levels and benefits here. Sign-up here.
> Are you a non-profit organization?
Check out the various sponsor levels and benefits here. Sign-up here.
Deadline March 31st.
A BIG THANK YOU to our growing list of 2024 Sponsors:
Community Cuisine Level Sponsor - $2,500
CRAFT Chatham
Giant Eagle
PA Preferred
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT)
Posner Foundation
Harvest Help Level Sponsors - $1,000
Farm to Table Buy Local
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Food Unity - $500
Allegheny County Conservation District
Food Studies at Chatham
Harvie
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
Food21
Nourish Neighbor Level Sponsor - $200
Ecotone Renewables
412 Rescue
Evangelical Environmental Network
East End Food Co-op
Invest PGH
Grow Pittsburgh
Hunger-Free Pennsylvania
Planning Committee
A big THANK YOU to our Summit Planning Committee, who has been working to vision, design, and coordinate this event!
Benjamin Buchanan, Unified Fields
Ben is a seasoned artisan butcher with a mission. Ben Buchanan is the founder of Unified Fields, a company dedicated to building a more humane and sustainable local meat economy. Driven by a desire for revival in craft butchery, Ben excels at carving up high-quality meats while also cultivating a community. When he is not being the Johnny Appleseed of butcher skills, he is playing ice hockey, biking, spending time with family, or brushing up on particle physics and electromagnetism.
Denele Hughson, Grow Pittsburgh
Denele is the Executive Director of Grow Pittsburgh, and a Pittsburgh native who is passionate about food security in the Greater Pittsburgh region. Denele graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Political Science and earned an M.S. in Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. She serves on the board of directors for PA Certified Organics and is a member of the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council Advisory Committee and the Pittsburgh Food Justice Fund Taskforce.
Lisa Freeman, MSW, MPA, Freeman Family Farm and Greenhouse
Lisa is the owner of Freeman Family Farm and Greenhouse, a State Committee member of the PA Farm Service Agency appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack, a member of the Pittsburgh Policy Food Council, and the author of We Don’t Want a F*cking Farm on Our Street.
Terra Ferderber, Frankferd Farms Foods
Terra is an executive officer at Frankferd Farms Foods, her family's organic food distributorship and flour mill in Saxonburg. She created and now directs the events program at the family farm while residing in the North Side of Pittsburgh.
Chris Murakami, PhD, Chatham University
Is an assistant professor of Agroecology in Chatham University’s Food Studies Program and leads the Bio-Intensive, Regenerative Market Garden (BIRM) project. Chris’s teaching and research focuses on experiential learning through food/agriculture, increasing access to culturally relevant foods, and urban agriculture.
Elizabeth Sherman (she/they), Carlow University
Is a dedicated apartment gardener, canner, dehydrator, fermentor and preserving hobbyist and avid consumer of local food. In addition, Elizabeth is an assistant professor at Carlow University and an independent occupational therapist supporting local Autistic community members and their families.
Tacumba Turner, Freight Farm
Tacumba is a passionate advocate for a reimagined food system. Through his work with organizations like Grow Pittsburgh and Oasis Farm and Fishery, Tacumba has been instrumental in educating, cultivating, and disseminating sustainably-produced vegetables within his community. Currently, he serves as the manager of a Freight Farm situated in the Cartier community, in collaboration with Westend Power, a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Terri Minor.
Teaira Collins, Lion of Judah Enterprises
Teaira Collins is the Founder and Executive Director of Lion of Judah Enterprises. She serves on the Board of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. She serves on the Pittsburgh Human Rights Commission. She’s a vocal advocate for her community!