The day after I delivered all of the “parts” for this issue to our fabulous designer—all except for my letter from the editor, of course—I attended the inaugural Harvest Summit in Healdsburg. The brainchild of Jessica Kilcullen, a successful PR strategist and Sonoma County winemaker, Harvest Summit was billed as a “gathering for innovators, influencers and tastemakers joined by award-winning chefs, winemakers and artisans to think, talk and celebrate the art, science and social impact of innovation.”
It lived up to the hype.
With talks and breakout sessions ranging from mind-blowing technology innovations to the “future of food” (turns out, that future is “back to the roots,” but the readers of Edible Marin & Wine Country already know that), a major thread running conspicuously through it all was the enduring importance of human connections. Maybe now more than ever. In a globally “networked” world, sharing our stories with those close to us, and across the globe, creating empathy and practicing compassion, is key to the health of the planet and our survival as a species.
As Mark Burnett, the former British Army ranger turned TV producer who brought us “Survivor,” “The Voice,” “Shark Tank” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” among others, stated in his closing remarks at Harvest Summit, you may have the greatest product ever made, but if you can’t tell its story in a way that makes people want it, it’s useless.
I left the gathering more grateful than ever that I have the privilege of publishing this magazine, with its mission of bringing our readers the stories of the exceptionally talented, hardworking and dedicated folks who are consciously growing and crafting food and drink here in Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties. They have extraordinary and compelling stories to tell.
Listening to the stories of these producers connects us to the food that we eat, to the land that must be preserved and nurtured so that they can continue to cultivate here, and to those with whom we share the bounty.
I raise a glass during this holiday season to them, to our readers and to our advertising partners. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you.
Cheers,
“There is a communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine drunk.”
—M.F.K. Fisher
