Farm-to-table pioneer to give talk on sustainable local economies

Sustainable Energy and Education Development Support (SEEDS) will host a presentation, “Resilient Regional Economies,” by renowned entrepreneur, author, and speaker Judy Wicks on Saturday, March 21, at The Cooperage Project in Honesdale.

An early pioneer of the farm-to-table and local economy movements, Wicks is nationally recognized for developing a blueprint for sustainable business practices. Since starting Philadelphia’s landmark farm-to-table restaurant, White Dog Cafe, in 1983, she has founded many regional and national organizations such as BALLE (now Common Future), the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, and All Together Now PA.

“Judy brings an entrepreneur's perspective of regional supply chains and local economy,” said SEEDS board member Jack Barnett. "Her restaurant was wildly successful because of its practices, which restaurant schools at the time considered to be all the ‘wrong things.’ From that success she learned the critical importance of investing in local businesses, of local businesses buying from other small businesses, and especially for agriculture and local food providers. I'm excited that she'll be sharing this with us, just as our community leaders have recognized the key role agriculture has in our economy.”

Wicks’ work connects urban and rural communities, farmers with entrepreneurs, investors with borrowers, producers with consumers, and engages them in a collaborative effort to build self-reliant regional economies throughout Pennsylvania.

The program will include light breakfast refreshments and a presentation by Wicks, followed by a brief question and answer session.

Program gold sponsors include: Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau, Turano Insurance, and Wayne Economic Development Corporation. Silver sponsors include Farm Arts Collective, Gincgo Inc., Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Wayne County Chapter, and Wayne/Pike Farm Bureau. Bronze sponsors include The Cooperage Project.

SEEDS is a non-profit environmental education organization based in Honesdale, and serving northeastern Pennsylvania, promoting sustainable energy and sustainable living.