Friday, September 25th | 8:30am-5pm
Chatham University Eden Hall Campus
Join CRAFT at Chatham University, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, for Roots & Routes, a day of learning, networking, and collaboration for the people growing, making, buying, and championing regional food.
The Roots & Routes Food Maker and Buyer Symposium aims to bridge the gap between small to mid-scale buyers, food product makers, and technical assistance providers to make connections, forge relationships, and find the best ways to work together to strengthen our regional food economy.
What You'll Learn
Keynote speakers and thought-provoking panel discussions exploring the themes of Roots & Routes —how small food businesses can stay grounded in place, community, and tradition while finding new pathways to growth, markets, and resilience.
Presentations led by industry experts designed to help you grow your business, whether you're producing food, sourcing local products, or building new buyer relationships. Learn from leaders, distributors, marketing and branding professionals, product development experts, and more.
Dedicated networking and resource time to connect one-on-one with organizations, technical assistance providers, and business support professionals who can help you navigate regulations, financing, marketing, distribution, and other challenges.
Plan Your Route
Find everything you need to prepare for Roots & Routes, including venue information, the symposium agenda, speaker details, and regional product resources.
Symposium Agenda (coming soon)
Keynote Speaker Bios (coming soon)
Value-Added Product Directory (coming soon)
Included with Your Ticket
• Lunch featuring locally sourced products and a sample table highlighting local businesses from across the region who are ready to sell their products to new audiences.
• Happy hour and pizza party at the outdoor Eden Hall Bread Oven to deepen connections and celebrate.
Get Involved
Food businesses: Do you have a value-added product ready to reach new markets? We’re looking for food entrepreneurs interested in showcasing their products during Roots & Routes. If you’d like to share samples during lunch or happy hour, or provide take-home samples for attendees, we’d love to hear from you!
Please reach out to Nicolette at N.spudic@chatham.edu to discuss the best way to feature your products and connect with potential buyers and partners.
Service providers: Do you support food businesses on their path to growth? We’re inviting technical assistance providers and organizations to share their expertise and connect with food entrepreneurs at Roots & Routes. Consider joining us as a tabling partner to showcase your resources, services, and support opportunities.
Reach out to Clare Erwin at clarecerwin@gmail.com to learn more and reserve your space.
Roots & Routes Partners
Roots & Routes is made possible through support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Funding for this event was provided through a USDA grant/cooperative agreement. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Interested in sponsoring, collaborating, or contributing to this gathering? Contact our team to learn more.