Taking Vertical Farming to New Heights; Discover Marketing Opportunities for Disruptor and Traditional Brands
The food industry is facing unprecedented disruption with traditional manufacturers and producers often edged out by artisanal brands and new ventures backed by VC and other forms of unconventional capital. This webinar will feature one of food’s most innovative brands, AeroFarms, the world’s largest indoor vertical farm and a source of fresh produce that is grown aeroponically, often utilizing fallow warehouse space in some of America’s most prominent urban food deserts.
Using AeroFarms as a case study, we’ll explore the possibilities when true food innovators really do think “outside of the box.” Following the conversation with AeroFarms Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Marc Oshima, we’ll hear from veteran food publicist Amy Stern, Senior Vice President of 3E Public Relations, who will address ways that innovations in PR can help companies to achieve their marketing goals. She has worked with traditional brands like French’s Mustard, Duncan Hines, Finlandia Cheese and Cuisinart, as well as up-and-coming brands looking to take center stage.
From start-ups to industry veterans, marketers often pay close attention to recipe and product development, scrutinizing over package design and more, yet commonly forget that brand awareness across consumer and trade media are invaluable assets to a winning marketing strategy.
Representing household names in food, as well as emerging brands, her insight and ingenuity have allowed her to convert brand-centric content into mainstream news. Amy’s long-standing industry relationships often find the media turning to her for editorial content and commentary. She is an active member of New York Women’s Culinary Alliance (NYWCA) and International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and served as a judge for the International Chocolate Awards and IACP Cookbook Awards. She has spoken to food and business audiences about the value that partnerships provide for brand-lift and thought leader development. Amy believes a career in food was her destiny as her family has deep roots in the retail grocery industry. She holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and is active in alumni affairs.
Recognized by Eating Well magazine as one of their 2018 American Food Heroes, Marc has dedicated the majority of his professional career to the food and produce industries and to improving our food systems. Prior to AeroFarms, he headed up marketing for The Food Emporium, a leading supermarket chain in the Northeast and for Citarella Gourmet Markets that has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Specialty Food Retailers in the United States. Also, Marc has overseen numerous food events including partnerships with the James Beard Foundation, Museum of Food & Drink (MOFAD), Slow Food, City Harvest, and Le Fooding, what Time magazine calls the “coolest food event in the world.”
A noted industry presenter, Marc has presented extensively from the Milken Institute to the Culinary Institute of America to Seeds & Chips Food Innovation Summit Milan to Esca Bono to the inaugural GroceryShop. With an extensive marketing background in retail, brand management, and media, he has developed award-winning marketing campaigns that have garnered top honors by AdWeek, AdAge, Creativity, AICP, and Webby.
Marc is on the Board of Directors for the Produce Marketing Association and is also an active member of the United Fresh Marketing Merchandising Council helping address the broader produce industry challenges and opportunities. Marc also sits on the FDA Romaine Advisory Task Force and is Vice Chairman of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Food Safety Coalition. In addition, Marc is Co-Chair for the Board of Chefs Collaborative, a 25 year old non-profit focused on improving our sustainable food systems, and he has been part of the Marketing Advisory Committee for the Food Bank for NYC¸ helping improve access to fresh, healthy food. He has a B.A. from Columbia College and a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
