Third Annual Esca Bona Brings Together Entrepreneurs, Investors, Influencers and Changemakers to Collaborate on Improving Good Food Access & Equality

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of 250 of the food industry's finest brands, impact-minded investors, policymakers, influencers and farmers came together for three days Oct. 16-18 in Austin, TX, for the third-annual Esca Bona event. The intimate and interactive gathering, hosted by New Hope Network, this year raised the question of how the industry can come together to solve the food access crisis and identify the real barriers to and the many opportunities that are born out of achieving greater food equality.

The solutions-oriented discussions led to creating new opportunities for brands, retailers, communities and individuals alike to be a part of a better future. Topics explored included: Best By Dates & Their Impact on Food Waste & Food Access; The Power of Purpose-Driven Campaigns; Urban Agriculture & The New Food Pioneers; Impactful Partnerships for the Future of Food; Systems-Based Thinking for Food Secure Communities; Cultivating the Next Generation of Agrarian Leaders; Regenerative Solutions for the Future of Food; Leveraging Wisdom & Resources; and How to Increase Access & Maintain Your Mission. Video recordings of all sessions have been archived and can be seen here.

"This year Esca Bona delivered another three days of ideas, connections, collaboration, laughter and tears. Each and every participant demonstrated a deep commitment to being fully present and open as we discussed ways to increase access to healthy, real food in all communities," said Carlotta Mast, Senior Vice President of Content & Insights at New Hope Network. "More than 50 million Americans don't have enough to eat and the divide separating the food 'haves' and 'have nots' is widening. All of us in attendance, from entrepreneurs to marketers to conscious investors to farmers and educators, spent three days thinking about actionable ideas to solve this complex problem."

Throughout the three-day event, participants heard from natural food industry veterans including: John Foraker, Co-Founder & CEO of Once Upon a Farm; and Robert Craven, CEO of MegaFood. Entrepreneurial visionaries included: Shen Tong, Managing Partner of FoodFutureCo; Galit Laibow, Co-founder & CEO of Foodstirs; Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins, Co-Founders & Chiefs of Epic Provisions; Alejandro Velez, Co-Founder of Back to the Roots; Errol Schweizer, Co-Founder of Good Catch; Dan Kurzrock, Co-Founder & Chief Grain Officer at Regrained; Marc Oshima, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of AeroFarms; Michael Hanan, CEO of Agua Dulce Farm; Andrew Pittz, Farmer-in-Chief of Sawmill Hollow Family Farm; and Lorig Hawkins, Owner of Middle Ground Farm. Inspiring changemakers included: Judith Ackerman, Business Development & Marketing Officer at Metro Caring; Sherene Chou, MS, RD, Nutrition Consultant at LA Kitchen; Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank; Elizabeth Candelario, Managing Director of Demeter; and Justin Perkins, Founder of Olomomo Nut Co. and VP Strategic Partnerships at Care2.com. Event speakers also included impact-minded investors, policymakers and influencers helping companies reach more consumers and bring their mission to greater heights.

"MegaFood has set our sights on the very large vision of curing nutritional poverty and to accomplish this will take real courage and action. Esca Bona delivered true inspiration and tactical ideas that will motivate us toward our goals. Even more important is the tribe of amazing people that will support us and hold us accountable to our now, very public objectives," said Robert Craven, CEO of MegaFood.

Attendees were also treated to several opportunities to network with the industry's best and brightest including a Service Project at El Buen Samaritano, a welcome reception with live local music, happy hours in the Entrepreneur's Garage interactive showcase, facilitated Food Story Lunch discussions, and an off-site dinner with live music capped off with the first annual Explore Austin Bar Crawl. In addition, The Fix session brought together six brands and six mentors to share challenges and leverage the collective talent and ideas of Esca Bona participants.

Esca Bona will return to Austin October 15-17, 2018. For more information visit escabona.com and follow the latest @EscaBona on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About New Hope Network
New Hope Network is at the forefront of the healthy lifestyle products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain from manufacturers, retailers/distributors, service providers and ingredient suppliers, the network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research and consultative services. Through its mission of growing healthy markets to bring more health to more people, New Hope Network helps businesses identify the people, products, partnerships and trends that create better opportunities and connections. For more information visit www.newhope.com.

About Informa Exhibitions
New Hope Network is part of Informa's Global Exhibitions Division. With over 200 trade and consumer exhibitions annually, Informa Exhibitions is a global market leader in such end markets as Boating, Beauty, Construction & Real Estate, Life Sciences, Maritime, Health & Nutrition, Agriculture and Pop Culture. Through face to face and digital channels, its transaction-oriented exhibitions enable communities to engage, experience and do business. In doing so, Informa brings together people who want to buy and sell, network, do business and gain inspiration. Industry insight, coupled with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach, provides Informa Exhibitions customers and partners with the opportunity to create business advantage and access markets. 

Informa Exhibitions is a division of Informa PLC, a leading business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. Informa PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

Contact:
Carrie Kocik
New Hope Network
Public Relations
617-694-5971
[email protected]

SOURCE New Hope Network