Author, speaker, and organic farmer, Joel Salatin visited Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland Medical Center on Jan. 21, 2011, and gave a presentation about the importance of supporting local, sustainable farming and food procurement in hospitals, school systems, and other large-scale food distribution centers. Prior to the talks, both Joel Salatin and Dr. Preston Maring, a long-time sustainable food advocate at Kaiser Permanente, talked with reporters about the farmers market program at Kaiser Permanente and the value of sustainable food systems in supporting the health of farmers and consumers.