Photo: Kathy Jennings/SW Michigan's Second Wave

The importance of locally produced food led off Kalamazoo’s first TED-x event Thursday night. The forum at Western Michigan University was modeled on the national “Technology, Entertainment and Design” sessions that have become an online phenomenon. The head of Fair Food Matters in Kalamazoo, Paul Stermer, was the first speaker. Stermer says he focused on ways people can get better food even though the food system “can feel overwhelming”.

Stermer spoke with WMUK’s Andy Robins and Kathy Jennings, the editor of Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave, after the TEDx Kalamazoo event. Stermer says the presentations at the invitation-only forum should be available online soon.