By Tara Fuller
 
February 9, 2011
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - The 2011 Local Food Connection took place in Medford Wednesday.
 
The seventh annual conference was organized by THRIVE, The Rogue Initiative For a More Vital Economy. The event, which took place at the Medford Library, is designed to promote regional and sustainable agriculture.
 
The focus of this year's event was wheat production. Event organizers said that more products are made from wheat grown in the Rogue Valley.
 
"We were able to successfully launch a loaf bread that's made with 95-percent ingredients that were grown within 100 miles of Portland," said Shobi Dahl, Vice President of NatureBake.
 
"As a chef, knowing where the person whose growing my food is very important to me," said Eric Bell with Standing Stone Brewery.
 
Bell says that Standing Stone tries to use as much locally grown products as they can in their menu. The restaurant even has their own chickens.
 
THRIVE says that next year they expect an even greater turnout.