Bloomberg News' Alan Bjerga To Moderate "Farm Size: Does It Really Matter" Discussion At The Food Dialogues™: Boston

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) will convene a panel of farmers, ranchers, and food pundits, including Michael Jacobson, the founder of Food Day and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), to address farm size, ownership and sustainability practices today from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT at the State Room in Boston. The Food Dialogues™: Boston, which is timed to Food Day, will be moderated by noted food author and Bloomberg News reporter Alan Bjerga.

"It was fitting that we are holding a discussion about how food can come from many different types of farms on Food Day," said Bob Stallman, USFRA chairman and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Having one of our strongest panels yet, we are hoping to take a balanced approach to investigating the differences and similarities between farms of different sizes and how the media and pop culture can impact how consumers perceive both big and small farms."

Today's panel discussion, which will be streamed live online, will feature opening remarks from Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, Ph.D., president of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. Panelists include:

• Leah Beyer, Farmer and Consultant, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Soybean Association, Columbus, Ind.
• Jamie Cruz, Owner/Grower, Springdell Farm, Littleton, Mass.
• Michael Jacobson, Founder, Food Day and Executive Director, CSPI
• Bill Luckey, Farmer, Columbus, Neb.
• Lori Renzi, Vice President, Brand Strategy and Development, Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations
• Bruce Rominger, Farmer, Rominger Brothers Farm, Winters, Calif.
• Michael Swanson, Ag Economist, Wells Fargo Bank

To watch today's panel discussion or for more information on farm size, ownership and sustainability, visit FoodDialogues.com.  Follow USFRA on Twitter @USFRA using #FoodD or on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/usfarmersandranchers.

About The Food Dialogues™
The Food Dialogues™ signature events are designed to bring together farmers, ranchers, industry experts, pundits, media and consumers for dynamic panel discussions on some of today's most pressing topics related to food and food production. Since its launch in 2011, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance has hosted more than 14 panels across the country.

About U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®)
USFRA is a group of farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners leading a movement to answer questions about how food is grown and raised. USFRA provides resources and tools to navigate today's food issues landscape with a broader goal of building trust in American agriculture.

This press release was wholly or partially funded by one or more Checkoff programs.

SOURCE U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance