A Celebration of Sustainability and Rural Landscapes at the NPC

We are delighted that Arlin Wasserman will give a key note presentation at the Closing Plenary on Saturday, October 6. Arlin is a leading expert in the development and marketing of rural branding. His approach follows the French concept of "terroir," thus he helps rural areas and producers bring together their unique assets of heritage, communities, countryside, locally grown foods, and other local products into a unique and authentic brand.

Arlin is founder and principal of Changing Tastes, a consultancy that provides strategic planning, economic development and marketing strategy insights to non-profit organizations, foundations, start-up food companies, and Fortune 100 companies. He is also a co-founder of The Robin Hood Center, a not for profit organized to create and manage branded food enterprises for the benefit of charities focusing on the alleviation of hunger and poverty.

The Washington Post on August 22 ran a feature on Arlin's work, entitled

"The Geography of Flavor - Bringing a European Idea Down to Earth: Producers, Farmers Pin Hopes on the Appeal of 'Terroir."
In addition to Arlin Wasserman, the Conference features a range of excellent rural field and ed sessions:

· Rosenwald Schools Information Session
· Farmsteads on the Fringe Field Session
· Preservation in a First-Ring Suburb
· Conspicuous Consumption and Rural Preservation Field Session
· Preservation Goals: Easements
· Preserving Local Dakotah Heritage Field Session
· Approaches to Reviving Small Towns
· Marketing Regional Flavor
· Preserve America Information Session
· Preservation Along Scenic Byways