Panelist Line-Up For Food Dialogues®: Boston Event On Thursday, October 24 Announced

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., Oct. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) today announced the moderator and list of panelists participating in the next Food Dialogues event, timed to Food Day, October 24. Noted food author and Bloomberg News reporter Alan Bjerga will moderate the discussion, "Farm Size: Does It Really Matter?" 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) will address the differences and similarities between large and small farms, farm ownership and sustainability practices and the effect these issues have on consumer perceptions.  The event, which also will stream live online at www.FoodDialogues.com, is one of thousands of events to commemorate Food Day, a national celebration of healthy, affordable and sustainably produced food.

"This is one of our strongest panels yet and it's fitting since they'll be examining one of the hottest topics in the agricultural community: farm size," said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "The purpose of the Food Dialogues events is to join in balanced discussions on provocative topics, like farm size, and our goal is to create a conversation that examines this subject from all angles. By holding this event on Food Day, we hope to reach a broader audience in Boston and online."

The October 24 discussion, which will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT is at the State Room in Boston and will include panelists:

• Leah Beyer, Farmer, Shelby County, 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

For more information on this event, including how to register, visit www.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 five major events, including 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 (USFRA)