FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Morgan Whiteley
May 14, 2026 727-893-8134
mwhiteley@tampabay.com
The Tampa Bay Times and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg bring together a panel of experts to discuss how food shapes a thriving community
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Times, in partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, will host a free community conversation on Tampa Bay’s food system at the upcoming Spotlight Tampa Bay event, “Farm to Table: How Food Shapes a Thriving Community.” The forum will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg’s Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. S., St. Petersburg.
From 5-6 p.m., explore the community resource center, which will include booths from The Sustainable Living Project, 360 Eats, the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coalition, Healthy St. Pete, 15th Street Farm, the American Culinary Federation’s Tampa Bay chapter, The Sustany Foundation, the Pinellas Beekeepers Association, Beech Kombucha and the Tampa Bay Times.
At 6 p.m., local experts and community leaders will participate in a panel discussion on how food shapes our region. How does the food we love get to our table? And what roles do we all play in making healthy food accessible to everyone in our community? In this free panel discussion, local residents, growers, and nonprofit and community leaders will discuss how Tampa Bay’s food system connects to every facet of our daily lives – from which foods are available to us to how much they cost – and what we can do to make the system stronger. Hear from local leaders dedicated to fighting food insecurity, farmers striving to uphold sustainable foodways and more. Plus, don’t miss our immersive tasting experience before the event.
“We believe strong communities are built when people understand the systems that shape their daily lives — including the food on our tables,” said Times CEO Conan Gallaty. “By convening this conversation with local leaders and residents, we hope to spark greater awareness, collaboration and action to ensure healthy, affordable food is accessible to everyone in our community.”
The conversation, moderated by Michelle Stark, food and dining editor at the Tampa Bay Times, will feature Rev. Howard Gunn Jr., co-founder of the Florida Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association; Emmanuel Roux, founder of 15th Street Farm; Jennifer Yeagley, CEO of the St. Pete Free Clinic; and Monica Petrella, food system program coordinator at Homegrown Hillsborough.
“Our reliable and equitable access to nutritious food is a critical component of our health, so we must come together to talk about it,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. “When we gather to hear from experts, ask questions and learn together, we can better drive the changes needed to ensure that good health helps all of our community members thrive.”
Doors open at 5 p.m. The resource center will be held from 5-6 p.m. The panel discussion, which will include questions from the audience, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Attendees should register at tampabay.com/spotlight. Admission and parking are free. For more information about the Spotlight Tampa Bay community conversation series, email mwhiteley@tampabay.com.
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About the Tampa Bay Times
The Tampa Bay Times, winner of 14 Pulitzer Prizes, is Florida’s largest newspaper and a trusted source for news. As a locally owned and independent media organization, the Times also operates tampabay.com. In addition to its flagship publication, the company publishes the free weekly tbt* Weekend and Bay magazine, offering comprehensive coverage of local news, entertainment and lifestyles.
About the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is a private foundation formed in 2013 following the sale of the nonprofit Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As the steward of an endowment to support health equity in Pinellas County, the foundation leads, funds, advocates and partners to create a community in which all people can lead healthy lives. The foundation advances racially equitable health outcomes by improving the systems and conditions that shape them. It opened its Center for Health Equity in 2019. To learn more, visit healthystpete.foundation.
Morgan Whiteley
Vice President of Marketing and Philanthropy
727-893-8134 (direct line)
mwhiteley@tampabay.com
