Beard Foundation Announces 2014 Leadership Awards Recipients

The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2014 recipients of the James Beard Foundation Leadership Awards, all five of whom will be honored during the foundation's annual Food Conference on October 27.

The new honorees are:

Mark Bittman, New York Times journalist and advocate of a better food system;

Ben Burkett, president of the National Family Farm Coalition and State Coordinator of Mississippi for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, for his support of the American family farm, and advocacy of the individual's right to wholesome food, clean water, air, and land;

Navina Khanna, Movement Strategy Center Fellow, for her activism in food justice and ecologically sound food systems;

Michael Pollan, author and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, for his continued coverage of issues including sustainable agriculture, nutrition, animal welfare, and farm policy;

And Karen Washington, Urban Farmer, Community Activist, and former president of the  New York City Community Garden Coalition, for her leadership in establishing urban gardens throughout the Bronx, and her advocacy of community gardens and green jobs.

"These five innovators are shedding light on the important issues that our food system faces, particularly the complex realms of sustainability, food access, and public health," said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. "Whether it is through education and advocacy of family and urban farms; working with youth to inspire community involvement; or using the written word as powerful tool, all are profoundly influential in creating a healthier, safer, and more sustainable food world."

The 2014 award recipients will be honored at a dinner ceremony presented by the James Beard Foundation and co-hosted by Good Housekeeping. Tickets are available to the general public for $1,000 and to attendees of the Food Conference for $500. Tables of ten are available for $10,000.

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Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.