Shelburne Farms Hosts James Beard Foundation "Boot Camp" Chefs

In September, more than a dozen chefs from as far as Puerto Rico and California came to Shelburne Farms for the James Beard Foundation’s eighth Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change. The chefs honed their policy and advocacy skills so they can be more effective champions for their food-system causes. Their focus was on childhood nutrition, which dovetails with our mission. Among the sessions offered were:

• Creating a Fair, Just, Sustainable, Nutritious, and Delicious Food System; and Why Chefs Matter: What is advocacy, why do we do it, how do we do it, what to expect from policy; engaging chefs on food-system issues

• How Policy Happens: Overview of policy change at state and federal levels, illustrated using the 2015 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act

• Using their Voice for Advocacy around the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization: Utilizing social influencers and networks, including the role social media play in successful advocacy

VT FEED staff Betsy Rosenbluth and Abbie Nelson presented on the growth and impact of the  farm to school movement and about Vermont’s model of collaboration and legislative actions needed to support farm to school initiatives.

James Beard Foundation press release