(Text courtesy of GeorgiaOrganics.org)

With more than 1,100 attendees, the Georgia Organics 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show was the largest in Georgia Organics history, demonstrating the growth of the good food movement in the South.
Held March 20-21 at Agnes Scott College, the conference saw two days of sustainable local farm tours, panel discussions, and in-depth workshops on subjects ranging from the science of composting with worms to food security, and culminated with the keynote speech of best-selling author Michael Pollan, who charged attendees to take advantage of the openness of the Obama Administration and push for meaningful, lasting agriculture reform.

“Here’s the core idea: we need to wean the American food system off its heavy 20th century diet of fossil fuels and put it back on a diet of contemporary sunshine. To the extent that we do that – at the level of policy and at the level of shopping for dinner – it diminishes the fossil fuel in our diet,” Pollan said. “This is easier said than done and will require changes at every link in the food chain: in the field, in the marketplace, and in the culture.”

Atlantis staffers had an amazing time attending the conference and educating people from their booth on the many benefits of growing hydroponically. It is great to see thousands of people come together to support the local food movement. We are looking forward to 2010!