Gary Oppenheimer from AmpleHarvest.org to Speak at TEDxManhattan "Changing The Way We Eat" on January 21, 2012

West Milford, NJ, January 08, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Gary Oppenheimer, founder and executive director of AmpleHarvest.org will speak at the second annual TEDxManhattan “Changing the Way We Eat” in New York City on January 21 at the Times Center. This independently organized, one-day event licensed by TED aims to explore the issues, impacts and innovations happening in the US food system as we shift to a more sustainable way of eating and farming as well as to help create connections between different areas of the food movement. The Glynwood Institute for Sustainable Food and Farming is the lead sponsor for “Changing the Way We Eat.”

While more than 50 million Americans, including 1 in 4 children under the age of six, are food insecure, almost as many Americans grow food in home gardens – often more than they can use, preserve or give to friends. AmpleHarvest.org is a one of a kind solution to America’s hunger and nutrition crisis that uses the Internet to enable millions of home gardeners across all 50 states to easily find a nearby food pantry eager for their excess harvest. Gary will explore the scope and magnitude of hunger in America, how he came upon this solution and highlight the impact this two year old campaign has already had.

The day includes a world-class line-up of inspiring speakers from all disciplines of the sustainable food world, including

· Patty Cantrell, Organizer, Regional Food Solutions
· Dr. Mitchell Davis, Vice President, The James Beard Foundation
· Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
. Michelle Hughes, Director of GrowNYC’s New Farmer Development Project
. Paul Lightfoot, Chief Executive Officer, BrightFarms
· Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States
· Dr. David Wallinga, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Last year, over 14,000 computers and 85 viewing parties from around the globe tuned in to the live webcast. To find out if there is a viewing party near you, visit www.AmpleHarvest.org/TEDx. And there’s still time to organize an event in your area - details can be found on the website. You can also watch the event live from your home on January 21st from 10am – 5pm EST at www.livestream.com/tedx.

For more information about TEDxManhattan, visit www.TEDxManhattan.org; media can contact geralyn@resourcescommunications.com, telephone 281.980.6643.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. For more information about TED and TEDx, please visit www.ted.com.

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

About AmpleHarvest.org

AmpleHarvest.org, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501c3 charity which has received backing and support from the USDA, Google, Inc., National Gardening Association, the Garden Writers of America, Rotary International, National Council of Churches, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Feeding America and its network of food banks, numerous faith groups and many others. The AmpleHarvest.org Campaign, in pursuit of its “no food left behind” mantra, works to diminish hunger, improve nutrition and help the environment in America by enabling gardeners nationwide to easily find a local food pantry eager to receive their excess garden bounty.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.AmpleHarvest.org/press or call AMPLE-6-9880 (267-536-9880). Follow AmpleHarvest.org at twitter.com/AmpleHarvest and at Facebook.com/AmpleHarvest.org.

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