David L. Lawrence Convention Center

March 27 & 28
Various times

As we rejoice at the first sightings of crocuses, thoughts are quickly turning to spring gardening plans, CSAs and new recipes for the warmer months ahead.

This weekend in Pittsburgh, the best place to learn more about where your food comes from and how you can turn over a new leaf to make healthier food and lifestyle choices, is at the ninth annual Farm to Table Pittsburgh Conference. With its latest theme of “Cook at Home,” Farm to Table is the ideal place to explore the fresh bountiful season of local growing, cooking and shopping—and incorporate it into your own daily routine.

The much-anticipated two-day event is packed with hands-on cooking demos, gardening and landscaping tips, delicious food tastings, informative resources about nutrition, health and wellness and more. Featured speakers include experts, food writers, chefs and nutritionists from The Brazen Kitchen, Carnegie Library, Grow Pittsburgh, American HealthCare Group and many more. Conference topics include everything from menu planning and school gardening, to the benefits of herbs and recipes for healthy desserts.

New this year—and one we won’t miss—is a “Drink Local Happy Hour” on March 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. The informal gathering of farmers, chefs, food purveyors and like-minded locavores will showcase the greener side of local wine, spirits and beer.

If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, don’t miss the Saturday morning pre-conference fresh breakfast featuring Noreen McGinnis Campbell of McGinnis Sisters and Crystal Baldwin from Giant Eagle Market District. The month-watering menu boasts tasty morning fare such as French toast casserole and tomato and hard-boiled egg salad.

Also new and exciting is the Project Lunch Tray’s Junior Chef Competition on March 28 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Watch as local school students compete live while sharing their knowledge about food safety, policy, cooking techniques and nutrition. Organized by the Community Kitchen, the project inspires kids and budding chefs to reimagine what a cafeteria lunch can be.

View a complete conference schedule and see all ticket options.

Download a 2015 conference program.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.