This Fall in Food: New England's Best Festivals, Conferences, Summits and More
Lauren Abda
Food entrepreneurship is a fast-paced and dynamic field. With the approach of Autumn colors comes crisper weather and shorter days, but it also marks the beginning of a new season of innovation for food entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and investors. The right conferences and workshops can be an invaluable means of joining the conversation. For those serious about changing the food system, take a look at these upcoming events in the world of food and beverage innovation you don’t want to miss.
Food entrepreneurship is a fast-paced and dynamic field. With the approach of Autumn colors comes crisper weather and shorter days, but it also marks the beginning of a new season of innovation for food entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and investors. The right conferences and workshops can be an invaluable means of joining the conversation. For those serious about changing the food system, take a look at these upcoming events in the world of food and beverage innovation you don’t want to miss.
Food+Future Fridays:
For a more casual conversation, join Food+Future CoLab for a weekly happy hour meetup. There will be drinks, bites and networking, as the lab shares the latest updates and prototypes from Poly, Illuminate and their other work. Anyone interested in improving our food system is welcome. Reserve your spot here.
This reoccurring event is where new food is born at Clover Food Lab. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste new menu items, consider new products from local farmers or producers, and discuss food quality control for the company as a whole. You don’t have to be an employee to give input with Clover, everyone is welcome!
When: September 6, 2016, 3:00-4:00pm (There’s another one coming soon. Reserve your free tickets at eventbrite)
Where: 1075 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Cost: Free
Harvard Science & Cooking Lecture Series:
Harvard's eminently popular lecture series returns this fall to provide informative public lectures about the science of food. The series features presenters such as Mark Post, the co-inventor of cell-cultured beef, and Bill Yosses, a former White House pastry chef. Topics covered include The Science of Sugar, Delicious Decomposition: Tales from the Cheese Caves of France, and others. This lecture series runs until November 7th, so make sure to take a look at Harvard's website for dates and more info.
When: September, October, and November 2016
Where: Harvard Science Center - 1 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, Hall C
Cost: Free
Community Table:
Community Table is an opportunity for eaters, entrepreneurs, and students of food to connect and exchange ideas. Based on Babson's Food Sol model, the design is always one table and one conversation with the collective driving the content. People have reported finding partners, expanding networks, and reaching retail all as direct results of attending Community Table. We hope you'll join the conversation to network, discuss, connect and learn from others doing awesome work in the city.
Where: 50 Milk Street Boston, MA 02150 (Anchor Room, 1st floor)
When: First Thursday of every month, 12:00-1:00pm (October 6th, 2016)
Cost: Free
Boston Local Food Festival:
For one day each year, the Sustainable Business of Network transforms the the Greenway of Boston into the nation's largest local & sustainable food hub! Boston Local Food Festival showcases farmers, local restaurants, food trucks, specialty food producers, fisher folks, and organizations focusing on healthy food and fitness from New England. The festival also features lively chef & DIY demos, a seafood throwdown competition, diverse music, performances, and more.
When: September 18, 2016
Where: the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Product Innovation Summit:
This event will bring together leaders from the world’s most reputable companies to discuss the best practices for innovation. With big brands including Dunkin’, Amazon, and Walt Disney, you can expect stimulating panel discussions, engaging workshops, and breakout activities on topics such as the role of Big Data, Prototyping and Deployment, Design Thinking and Customer Insight. Check out more details here.
When: September 28-29, 2016
Where: Boston, MA
Cost: Varies by pass
Let’s Talk About Food Festival:
This festival lets participants dive into the most important food conversations and debates happening in society today. Through hands-on cooking demonstrations, edible gardens, and more, participants can also explore how to take advantage of the food around them by cooking better and eating healthier. Check this website for more information, and make sure to stop by Branchfood's Future of Food session at 12PM!
When: October 1, 2016
Where: Copley Square Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Boston Veg Food Festival:
The Boston Vegetarian Society is bringing back their popular veggie food festival for its 21st annual iteration. Festival goers can expect an array of exhibits and panels featuring chefs, educators, nutritionists, and more. In addition, plenty of plant-based products are being offered, and free samples are in abundance! As always, the festival is free to the public and is a great opportunity to learn more about vegetarianism. Check out the festival website for schedules, sponsors, and other info.
When: October 22, 2016 & October 23, 2016
Where: Reggie Lewis Athletic Center - 1350 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Babson Food Day:
Babson Food Day, now in its sixth year, fuels the energy, creativity, and generosity of eaters and entrepreneurs working together for a brighter food future. This year’s events serve a community hungry for fresh ideas, new designs and flavors, and plenty of good food innovation. Check out the agenda here.
This event is open to anyone who is planning to start, work, mentor or fund a startup. If you are seeking to launch a startup across large market, you will enjoy this chance to mingle and network with potential co-founder, partner, corporate clients or investors along top industry domain experts. Get more info here
When: November 3-6, 2016
Where: MIT University (Venue: TBD) - 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $10-25
reThinkFood:
Although not in New England, the Boston born MIT media lab is co-hosting this can't-miss conference. reThink Food was conceived as a space to gather like-minded chefs, scientists, innovators, culinary experts, technologists, and marketers. This conference includes presentations, panels, culinary demonstrations, and sensory tastings led by thought leaders from the food industry, technology world, and academia who will address how, what, and why we cook and eat the way we do today and where we are heading. To check out the incredible list of panelists and presenters, click here.
When: November 4-6, 2016
Where: Napa Valley, CA
Cost: $595-$2975
Change Food Festival
Highlighting solutions both current and visionary is the focus of this New York City based food festival. Changing the food system is the guiding theme of the panels and presentations, with topics ranging from factory farming to food labeling. In addition, the festival offers networking opportunities, demonstrations, food tastings, and post-event themed dinners. Tickets are going fast, so head on over to the Change Food Festival website or eventbrite page!
When: November 12-13, 2016
Where: New York City, NY
Cost: $325-$600
These are just a few of the many food-centric events happening in New England. Be sure to check the Branchfood events page, eventbrite, and meetup for more food entrepreneurship events in the future.