The Food and Beverage Alliance is a joke. The Advancement Office (Fund Raising) under the Direction of Victor Gielisse at the Culinary Institute of America made up this alliance just to get the grant money. The Culinary has no history of working with local farmers or any local organizations for that matter. How many local farmers were invited to the groundbreaking and dedication of the new Marriot Conference Center where the farmers are supposed to meet and have conferences? Farmers can't get money for seeds yet the CIA big wigs can go to Washington and get 3.4 million for conference rooms.