Join ecoRI News for its inaugural Happy Hour Speaker Series. Guests will nibble on local fare while listening to a lively panel discussion — moderated by ecoRI News editor Frank Carini — about the “Dark Side of Local Food.”

Among some of the questions the panel will address: How can consumers know what they’re buying is truly local? How do we define local food? Is local food better for the environment? Who is left out if local food is not affordable?

Panelists will include: Ken Ayars, chief of the Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture; Jesse Rye, co-executive director of Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Cassie Tharinger, co-founder of Urban Greens Co-op, Matt Tracy, farmer at Red Planet Vegetables and Lisa Raiola, founder of Hope & Main.

This event is sponsored thanks in part to the generosity of United Natural Foods and Daniele, Inc.. Support also provided by our media partner Yelp Providence.

Light snacks will be provided by Narragansett Creamery, The Backyard Food Company, Seven Stars Bakery, Sacred Cow “The Holy Granola Experience” and other local vendors. Guests can also enjoy a cash bar at AS220.

Advance ticket purchase recommended. Before April 30, tickets are $8. After April 30, tickets are $10. A limited number of $5 tickets are available to students. Visit www.ecoRI.org/darkside for tickets and more info.