The symposium focuses on Harford County's agriculture and food system and the advantages of buying local. Various speakers will discuss topics including "The Real Cost of Cheap Food: The Economic Challenges of Farming and Eating," "Rooted in Our Soil: Buying Local for Our Community and Our Health," "What's Behind the Label: How Do We Understand the Meaning of Organic, GMOs and Antibiotic-Free Food?" and more. Breakfast and lunch will feature local agricultural products.

The symposium's keynote speaker is Julie Oberg, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. She will discuss "As a Community of Food Consumers, We Are All Stakeholders in the Success of Our Farms: Overview of Harford County Farming and its Challenges."

Breakout sessions include "The Real Cost of Cheap Food: The Economic Challenges of Farming and Eating," "Rooted in Our Soil: Buying Local for Our Community and Our Health," "What's Behind the Label: How Do We Understand the Meaning of Organic, GMOs and Antibiotic-Free Food?" and "Why is Agricultural Land Preservation Important in Harford County?"

The symposium will also launch Harford County’s new web-based GIS map enabling the public to “buy local” by easily locating and finding information about Harford County farms and their products.

Breakfast and lunch will feature local agricultural products. At lunch, a wrap-up discussion about the sessions and follow-up action will take place. There will also be a display featuring local farmers and their products.

In addition, video shorts featuring farming and food topics will be shown in the registration area, and table and poster displays highlighting county agricultural agencies will be on display.

The symposium is geared to both the public and farmers to learn about and discuss issues facing food producers and consumers today. In addition, the planning team encourages county organizations, including nonprofits and religious institutions, to sponsor at least one member to attend the symposium as a "food ambassador." Food ambassadors will return to their organizations to educate the membership on the information they learned at the symposium.

The cost to attend is $10 per person and registration can be made in person on campus at the Office of Continuing Education and Training in Edgewood Hall (401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air) or online at harford.edu. More information about the symposium may be found at harford.edu/gathering and by contacting Dr. Sharon Stowers at [email protected].

Sponsors of the symposium include Harford Community College, Harford Community College Foundation's Grants for Innovation Program, Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development and Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation.