What is the role of local food to wholesale distributors?

Curious about the importance of local food to wholesale distributors and the role that it plays in their operations? Then you won't want to miss Bob Harrington President of Specialty Produce, a food service and retail fresh produce supplier to over 600 restaurants and hotels in San Diego, who will be participating in the upcoming 4th Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Conference on November 3 – 4, 2015 at UC San Diego.

Bob will be part of a panel that will explore the current state of the local food marketplace from the diverse vantage points of the grower, distributor, retailer and institutional buyer. He will discuss his company's efforts to source and distribute local food.

Bob began his business career in 1977 with the opening of his retail store, La Jolla Produce in La Jolla, California. In 1988 Bob began wholesaling to local restaurants and hotels. Two years later, Bob formed Specialty Produce with his two brothers.
Over the past 25 years, Specialty Produce has continued to expand, offering deliveries 7 days a week, organic produce, a farmers’ market program, online ordering for customers, and an extensive website based on information harvested straight from the source. Bob sees the value of nurturing the relationships with his customers, farmers and local community, and creating collaboration between them.

Discounted Seed Saver Tickets are available for a limited time, so register now to hear Bob speak at the 4th Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Conference: www.seedstockconference.com

Confirmed Speakers:

Erik Oberholtzer - Co-founder of Tender Greens
Catt Fields White - CEO of SD Weekly Markets
Dan Gibbs - CEO of Home Town Farms
Rishi Kumar - Founder of The Growing Home
Lauren Blacker - District Manager at Sodexo for Sharp HealthCare
N. Diane Moss - Executive Director of Project New Village
Milan Kluko - Founder and President at Green Spirit Farms
Ed Glebus - Associate Director and Executive Chef for SDSU Dining
Daron "Farmer D" Joffe - Director of Agricultural Innovation at Leichtag Foundation
Gus Schumacher - Founding Board Chair and Vice President of Wholesome Wave
Pierre Sleiman - Founder and CEO of Go Green Agriculture
Tarek Hijazi - Director of Agriculture and Regulatory Affairs at Sundial Farm
Lucy Norris - Regional Food Systems Program Director at Ag Innovations
Amy McCann - Co-founder and CEO of Local Food Marketplace
Robert Tse - State Broadband Coordinator for USDA CA-Rural Development
Anchi Mei - Senior Program Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Damian Valdez - Farmer at Seeds@City Urban Farm