Saturday, Joe Vecchio broadcasted the show from the Berry Good Night event in La Jolla. Hosted by Bill & Michelle Lerach and now in its sixth year, the event celebrates local growers, ranchers, and producers, along with championing the ideology of sustainable food. It unites kindred spirits—artisans, food activists, farmers, ranchers, winemakers, brewers, writers, chefs, restaurateurs and dedicated locavores—for an evening of conscious conversation over a sensory sustainable feast. Passionate chefs from San Diego and Baja California join together to create dishes using whole animals purchased from local ranchers and produce from local growers, paired with local wines, beers and spirits. Guests rotate tables each course as to forge new friendships and potential partnerships. Berry Good Night stands as a model for other communities to come together and share sustainable practices, explore fair food systems, and support their local growers and guardians of the land.

Last year the event explored the next generation of farming, and this event has always been about evolving the local food community. Now we’re seeing the results. This year, we’re launching the Berry Good Food Foundation with a stunning board of directors and advisory board comprised of people in healthcare, food and activism.

Topics in the show will be and introduction to the event with the founder, Michelle Lerach as well as restaurant critic and food host Troy Johnson, and Tana Lorah from Kaiser Permanente.

In the next segment, they will be discussing something on everyone’s mind, the drought. Joe will be speaking with Scott Murray, a farmer from the Edge of Urban Farm, to talk about how the drought affects his crops, how he cultivates them, and how he’s addressing the drought. BJ Kjaer, of Solar Rain, will discuss desalination, and Nick Palumbo of Palumbo Family Vineyards the effect on the vineyards.

Next, the discussion will switch to “Bees and What We Can Do to Save Them” with Hilary Kearney, who raises honey bees and is an urban bee keeper. Dave Schubert of the Salk Institute will talk about bees and butterflies. And finally, the discussion will turn to Waste Not.  Exploring The Daily Table, a market Trader Joe’s founder is launching in low-income communities using throw-away groceries that are still good, only the sell-by date is expired.  Interviewees are Trish Watlington, owner, The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar, to discuss whole plant cooking, Flor Franco, chef and entrepreneur, Back to Roots Market and Jaime Fritsch, food activist, Meat Collective.

It was an interesting and informative program with lots of exciting guests discussing topics important to us all. Stay tuned for audio clips on sustainable food growers in San Diego County.

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Listen to a podcast of the entire Sixth Annual Berry Good Night!

Listen to a podcast of just Berry Good Food Foundation!

Listen to a podcast of just Waste Not!

Listen to a podcast of just The Drought!

Listen to a podcast of just Bees!

Listen to a podcast of just Michelle Lerach’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Troy Johnson’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Tana Lorah’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just BJ Kjaer’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Scott Murray’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Nick Palumbo’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Jaime Fritsch’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Trish Watlington’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Flor Franco’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Hilary Kearney’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Dave Schubert’s interview!