Shocking but true – food in Philadelphia goes beyond soft pretzels and cheesesteaks.

On January 18 the Philadelphia Urban Sustainability Forum will present an event to discuss regional food choices and the growth of sustainable agriculture practices in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The evening will be moderated by Joy Lawrence of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and will be held at the Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., program begins at 6:30 p.m..

The January Forum presenters include:

Kathy Lawrence, former Director and founder of Just Food (New York City), who will discuss the challenges in our current food production systems, and how we as consumers can encourage sustainable, equitable and healthy change.

Gary Giberson, Executive Chef at the Lawrenceville School will join us to share the vision and practical lessons that have been a part of transforming the dining experience at Lawrenceville School.

Ann Karlen, the founding Director of the White Dog Cafe Foundation's Fair Food project, will share her wealth of knowledge gained in her work with farmers, chefs and other wholesale buyers to help build business relationships and bring more local food into the Philadelphia marketplace.

The objective of the Philadelphia Urban Sustainability Forum is to create awareness of what city government, businesses and residents can do to make Philadelphia the greenest, most livable city in America.

The Forum is organized and co-sponsored by: The Academy of Natural Sciences – Town Square Program, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Pennsylvania Resource Council, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Sustainable Business Network, Temple University – Ambler, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. EPA, the City of Philadelphia Planning Commission, the AIA Committee of the Environment, Urban Engineers, Inc, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Center City District, the Pennsylvania Economy League, Philadelphia University, the University of Pennsylvania Institute of Urban Research, Sara Steele, and Lisa Hough – Prudential, Fox, and Roach.

RSVPs recommended to rwall@acnatsci.org.

For more information on this and other upcoming activities, visit the Philadelphia Urban Sustainability Forum website.

1/12/2007