It’s not very often that you walk into a room with over a hundred people where most of the faces are familiar. You’d think that’d be more along the lines of your last family reunion or birthday party. Welcome to the food movement – where its members seem more like family than your own. In my case, I definitely see more of these folks than the 50+ people who make up my aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Between the screening of Dirt! at the Bloor Cinema by FoodCycles on Thursday night and this weekend’s organic extravaganza in Guelph, ON, it’s been one big networking/love fest as all these amazing people, active and interested in food issues, have been feeding off each other’s excitement and energy for the better world we’re building together.

Although the conference centers around a large organic trade show and a plethora of workshops geared to passionate eaters and farmers alike, the real value of the conference is one part networking, one part family reunion, and one part movement revival.

Although I am coming away with a head full of thoughts about food, agriculture and the movement, I think what I’m leaving most excited about is the sheer variety of ways in which people can be involved. Many of these farmers are like scientists, always trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t while balancing economic, ethical, and personal factors. Some are expanding into on-farm education programs with youth, or are offering internships to the many young farmer hopefuls who see value in returning to a life connected to land. It’s a busy, vibrant foodie ecosystem here in Ontario. And I’m hoping it’s just the beginning.

As inspiring as it can be, there are some sticky spots which kind of rub me the wrong way. My biggest beef is the division between Certified Organic and those who are not, irrespective of other factors such as locality. Case in point, anything not Certified Organic is a no-go around here, meaning a local farm adhering to organic practices but can’t afford/doesn’t believe in certification will be excluded while Certified Organic vegan gummy worms filled with imported cane sugar are fair game on the trade show floor. Sigh.

Speaking of the trade show, after perusing probably over a hundred booths trying to tell me something or sell me something, here’s my take on the bests and worsts:

Trade Show Bests:

“Fun Guy” Bruno’s Reishi (medicinal mushroom) & raw cacao hot chocolate that he whips up (literally) right in front of you.

Cathy’s Crawly Creatures’ “Worm Chalet” which features a 3 ‘story’ vermicomposting unit that sifts your finished compost for you, minimizing hassle. This struck me as a great teaching tool for classrooms.

Fresh pressed carrot juice and press-your-own oat flakes demo by Pfennings

Trade Show Worsts:

Aside from the run of the mill bland, literature-heavy booths, the used book seller who actually had the gall to jack up the prices of worn out books above their cover price by 30% was the trade show’s lame duck to me.