USA: Farm Aid Music and Food Festival

Farm Aid has announced that its annual benefit concert will return to Hersheypark Stadium in Pennsylvania on 22 Sept. 2012. “We’ve built a strong family farm movement to grow our economy, ensure our health and protect our environment. Farm Aid brings these Main Street values to transform the Wall Street-controlled farm and food system,” said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. “The Farm Aid concert is our chance to shine a spotlight on the independent family farmers who are essential to the well-being of our country.” (Picture: Willie Nelson at Farm Aid 2011)

Farm Aid 2012 will feature Willie Nelson and fellow board members John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds as well as Jack Johnson, ALO, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. The music and food festival will also feature Farm Aid’s Homegrown Concessions, family farm-identified, local and organic foods. Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village will give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, engage in hands-on food and farm activities and learn about the ways family farmers are enriching the soil, protecting water and growing economy, in addition to bringing good food.

Farm Aid has long collaborated with and supported organizations and organizers in Pennsylvania who are growing the Good Food movement, including innovators at the forefront of the organic and the Buy Fresh Buy Local movements. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than US$40 million (about 32,5 million euros) to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Farm Aid