For almost a half century, Bert Cutino has been leading the kitchen of one of the most iconic restaurants in the country. As chef and co-owner of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, CA, Bert has served many well-known figures over the years from Julia Child to Paul Newman, all seeking the regional cuisine he has advocated and perfected.

He has been honored by the Menu Masters Hall of Fame and named a National Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation. He’s the recipient of many local, regional and national honors, but equally important are his committed contributions to his community. He co-founded the Drummond Culinary Academy in nearby Salinas, where at-risk students are trained and mentored in culinary skills.

He is dedicated to his life’s work — his restaurant, kitchen, customers, community and fresh cuisine — and stays current on what is classic and simple. He emphasizes quality first, saying, “We’re very fortunate that we have a great diversity of local, fresh and sustainable food choices.” Bert’s creations remain a cornerstone of regional cuisine attracting celebrities and locals to his brand of well-being.

Craig LeHoullier is a gardener, author, and educator. He’s an accessible, inspiring tomato authority for experts and beginners alike, but he describes himself very modestly, saying, “All I am is Craig LeHoullier — someone that heirloom tomatoes chose to help participate in their continued relevance.”

The author of Epic Tomatoes, one of the most definitive books on the fruit, Craig is also known as the North Carolina Tomato Man, a nod to his home state, where he serves as an advisor at the Seed Savers Exchange. A popular and knowledgeable source of gardening knowledge, he offers weekly blog posts, videos on YouTube and is an in demand speaker scheduled across the nation from the Philadelphia Flower Show to the Chicago Botanic Garden to the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, VA.

Craig’s followers understand that he loves gardening with the same passion they feel. He learned the simple pleasures of gardening walking alongside his grandfather and father. The seeds were planted early, and he expresses his joy in sharing and learning. His depth and breadth of knowledge across seeds, soil, transplanting, pruning, varieties, pests and more are shared easily as a friend would share an insight.

Elizabeth Candelario is a seasoned marketer, non-profit executive and strategic advocate for Biodynamic farmers and brands. She is the managing director of Demeter Association, Inc., the U.S. representative of Demeter International. Elizabeth is also immediate past president and current board member of Stellar Certification Services, one of the nation’s first National Organic Program (NOP) accredited organic certification companies.

Elizabeth was personally inspired by Biodynamic agriculture’s positive effects on the food we eat and the environment we live in while marketing director at Quivira Vineyards. There, she experienced first-hand the wine estate’s transition from conventional to Biodynamic farming. Elizabeth joined Demeter in 2008 to assist in expanding awareness about this important regenerative farming method.

Elizabeth utilizes social entrepreneurship to grow the Biodynamic marketplace in this country by connecting and inspiring the retailers, brands, farmers, and supply chain stakeholders needed to make it happen. This work is emboldened by consumers who are demanding quality, transparency, and purpose-driven narratives in the food they eat and the brands they support.

A highly-sought after speaker, Elizabeth has presented at the New Hope Network’s Expo West and Expo East, National Press Club, Lifestyle of Health and Wellness (LOHAS), Organic Monitor’s Sustainable Food Summit, Slow Money’s Annual Conference, Organic Spa Magazine’s Annual Conference, Eco-Farm, the International Beauty Show, and others. Elizabeth’s articles have been published in national media outlets and she has appeared on television, radio, and in print media.

Gwen Young is a nutrition advocate promoting innovative, independent nutrition educational materials and channels. She is president of the Tomato Foundation where she informs and inspires lifestyle as medicine. Prior to her leadership at the Foundation she worked for over two decades promoting healthy tomato products with the aim of increasing the global access and consumption of tomato products worldwide.  The other main aims were to share, promote and fund academic research on tomatoes and human health to support and increase the total scientific knowledge base.  This information was then used to build the education materials and focus future human health research and policy.

As Chair of the Tomato and Health Commission at the World Processing Tomato Council, Gwen joined in the effort to analyze the abundance of information published on the health benefits of tomato products and coordinate efforts across markets to promote those products within a healthy diet / lifestyle. She has maintained a focus on food quality from the early days of her career at Nestle’. Today, she leads an important effort to provide simple, truthful nutrition information and promote grassroots, back to basics cooking skills — all with the goal of encouraging people of all ages to take control of their diet and health.

Jere Gettle has had a lifelong passion for growing things and a dedication for nurturing heirloom seeds and making them widely accessible. He is the founder of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, which offers the largest selection of heirloom vegetable, flower and herb varieties in the United States. From his base of operation, he offers over 1800 varieties and unique seeds from over 75 countries.

Jere and his wife Emilee are focused on promoting and preserving our agricultural and culinary heritage. Encouraging a continuous exchange of ideas and seeds is their motivation as authors, publishers, and educators as well as conveners of gardeners and natural food enthusiasts. Over 700,000 gardeners receive Bear Creek’s seed catalog.

Jere’s creative range of operations includes a seed store and pioneer-style farming village in the Ozarks of Missouri and a seed bank housed in a renovated bank building in Petaluma, CA. He and Emilee are philanthropists with global hearts, supplying free seeds to many of the world’s poorest countries as well as here at home in school gardens and educational projects. At the core of their work as advocates for a better and safer food supply is to make nutrition and education accessible for all.

Nell Newman is an environmentalist, biologist and a prominent advisor on sustainable agriculture who supports causes through her own Nell Newman Foundation. She is a founder of an organic food and pet food production company at Newman’s Own Organics and a highly sought after speaker who shares her commitment to organic food and products made from organic ingredients. She has aligned this effort with her environmental concerns.

“By utilizing organic ingredients, we’re supporting the environment through the growth of organic agriculture,” says Nell.

The daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Nell had an early introduction to natural foods at their rural Connecticut home. She inspires simple acts of choosing, cooking and eating natural and organic as a source of personal well-being and as a commitment to making a difference in causes for which she cares deeply. Her thoughts are highlighted in her book, The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live.

PK Newby, ScD, MPH, MS {“The Nutrition Doctor”) is a scientist, gastronome, author, and speaker who brings together her passions for food, health, and sustainability to help people translate principles of sound nutrition and green eating to their plates, one delectable bite at a time. She is as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nutrition at Harvard University, where her research and teaching focuses on obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. She spends most of her time today as a food and science communicator to help put an end to nutrition confusion and reduce preventable diseases that compromise wellbeing.

She is an inspired chef and health expert who offers insights and practical advice to harness the power of nutrition, enabling people to live their healthiest, most delicious lives. Her culinary point of view is science-based, featuring plant-based ingredients and globally inspired flavors that promote health, prevent disease, and protect the planet. Think creamy roasted red pepper and tomato soup, or heavenly marinara sauce starring summer sweet tomatoes. But forget denial: PK celebrates indulgence (in moderation!) as part of her food-loving philosophy.

PK is a passionate in-demand speaker and vibrant media personality who aims to empower people of all walks of life to embrace a healthy and balanced lifestyle, in all the ways she can. She is a fresh food personality for a new millennium, doing for globally inspired and plant-based cuisine what Julia Child did for French fare.

Mike Dunton is first and foremost a family farmer. He can trace his roots in America to the early 1620s and every generation of his family has at one point farmed. Today, the Dunton Family Farm in Liberal, OR is still a true multi-generational family operation and home to the Victory Seed Company.  Founded by Mike in 1998, the Victory Seed Company is the realization of his passion for preserving endangered, open-pollinated and heirloom seed varieties.

Heritage garden seeds of vegetables, herbs, flowers, grain and even tobacco are cultivated at Dunton Family Farm, but tomatoes have been a particular focus of his and by proxy the Victory Seed Company. He and his family have dedicated their efforts to teaching the principles of horticultural heritage, maintaining a seed bank, building a horticultural library, and remaining independent from the mainstream seed trade ensuring important varieties remain commercially available to future generations of gardeners.

Mike honors farming tradition while also being a leading innovator connected to a global community of gardeners and farmers. Each year, he receives their prized seed varieties to trial and make accessible to gardeners. He maintains a vibrant online community of gardening friends, partners and supporters. With efforts such as rebuilding A.W. Livingston’s tomato collection, his choices speak volumes about his dedication to preserving biodiversity and horticultural history.