Above: Melissa Gomez and Julia Crookston, Goodland Kitchen

How to Turn Your Passions Into Profits
On December 8th, join WEV and four local food entrepreneurs at Goodland Kitchen to learn about starting or growing a specialty food business. Panelists include many that have been profiled in Edible Santa Barbara:

Julia Crookston, Preserves Santa Barbara, Goodland Kitchen & Market: Julia is a career culinarian with over 30 years of production and development experience. She is a lifelong promoter and practitioner of handmade high-quality foods and is deeply involved with local food production systems.

Gail Zannon, Santa Barbara Pistachios: The Zannons planted their first 50 acres of organically grown pistachios in Cuyama in 199. Now, with 440 acres in production, Santa Barbara Pistachios is a family farm and business. A veteran of fancy food shows and farmers markets, Gail knows more ways to serve and sell a pistachio than just about anybody.

Heidi Whitney, IxCacoa Brownies: IxCacoa Brownies is an all natural, premium chocolate brownie company which specializes in using spices from around the world to create unique flavors. Heidi combines her passion for good chocolate and travel with a degree in business to grow a company that she hopes to take global.

Elizabeth Poett, Rancho San Julian Beef: Elizabeth Poett was born and raised on her family’s historic cattle ranch, Rancho San Julian and is dedicated to good food and preserving the environment. She has been providing Rancho San Julian Beef to Farmers Markets and restaurants along the Central Coast for the last three years and makes beef jerky in the Goodland Kitchen.

Melissa Gomez will be the moderator for the discussion.

• Date: Thursday, December 8
• Time: 6–7:30pm Panel Discussion / 7:30–8pm Networking
• Location: Goodland Kitchen, 231 S. Magnolia, Old Town Goleta

To sign up go to http://wevonline.givezooks.com/events/foodstuff-how-to-turn-your-passion-into-profits