Free public lecture explores economics of region’s food system; event is part of the Beer City Science Pub speaker series
The Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) and The Collider announce their next co-hosted installment of Beer City Science Pub, the free Friday night guest speaker series, with a program on Dec. 16 titled, “What Is the Value of WNC’s Food System?”
At this event, free and open to the public, UNC Asheville economics professor Leah Greden Mathews, Ph.D, will share results from several studies conducted in Western North Carolina on the economics of our local food system.
The program takes place at The Collider in downtown Asheville, on the top floor of the Wells Fargo building at 1 Haywood St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for light refreshments, including beer provided by Burial Brewing Company; the program begins at 6:30.
According to Dr. Mathews, area residents and visitors receive benefits from farmland, the value of social interactions at farmers markets, and the veracity of the Appalachian Grown local food label. Throughout the talk, emphasis will be placed on the significant role that intangible values such as scenic quality, cultural heritage and social capital play in the food system and economy overall.
Burial Brewing Company Beer will provide a small batch beer, Magpie on the Gallows Saison, specifically created by Burial and aged on oranges and cranberries, to pair with the theme of this Beer City Science Pub. Saisons were historically brewed for farmers to quench their thirst after a warm, taxing day in the fields.
This is the fourth year AMOS has collaborated with local scientists and breweries to present the Beer City Science Pub series. The Collider, an innovation center for climate solutions is partnering with the museum to co-host the 2016-17 series. The two nonprofit organizations are located in the same building; AMOS on the ground floor at 43 Patton Ave., and The Collider on the top floor, overlooking Pritchard Park.
For more information about AMOS or Beer City Science Pub, contact Cory Van Auken, cvanauken@ashevillescience.org or (828) 254-7162.