Hundreds of farmers, rabbis, nutritionists, chefs, vegans, omnivores, activists and others from around the country—including dozens of Coloradans—will convene on the campus of UC Davis in California this August for four inspirational and educational days at the Hazon Food Conference, the epicenter of the Jewish Food Movement.

Co-chaired by Rabbi Marc Soloway of Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom, the Food Conference has many local ties. Rabbi Soloway is joined on the national planning team by Juliet Glaser and Marlene Rezvani of Denver and Aaron Bandler of Colorado Springs.

Rezvani signed on to help plan this year’s Conference after attending in 2010. “In addition to meeting folks as passionate about food and Judaism as I am at the Conference, I enjoyed being introduced to new ideas.” Among her favorite experiences was the dynamic beit midrash (study hall) on Shabbat, “On a rainy day, groups of 10 or so were huddled at tables thinking about and growing around issues linking food and our spirituality in meaningful ways.”

Through the generous support of Rose Community Foundation, Oreg Foundation, and 18 Pomegranates, Hazon is pleased to offer scholarships to the Food Conference for people living in the Denver and Boulder areas. Get more information and apply here; application deadline is June 1.

Juliet Glaser is serving on the 2011 Food Conference planning team and she can’t wait to return to the Conference this year.

Being surrounded by other Jews who cared about food issues was so inspiring and energizing. This year I am looking forward to attending with my whole family, so that we can all share in the experience of learning about, playing with and enjoying all things food!”

Confirmed keynote speakers include Dr. Oran B. Hesterman and Joan Nathan. Hesterman is the President and CEO of Fair Food Network, a national non-profit organization working at the intersection of food systems, sustainability and social equity to guarantee access to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food, especially in underserved communities. His forthcoming book, “Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All,” will be published on May 31, 2011. Oran is committed to weaving together his professional work in sustainable food systems, caring for others and the earth in keeping with the traditions and ethics of justice rooted in his Jewish heritage.

Nathan is the author of ten cookbooks including the recently published “Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France” (Knopf, November 2010). She is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Food Arts Magazine and Tablet Magazine, among other publications.