North American Vegetarian Society

Every summer hundreds of people converge on a sylvan campus to hear internationally renowned vegan speakers with deep expertise hold lectures and seminars on various aspects of vegetarian life. Tantamount to a vegetarian university in microcosm, this midsummer conference is known fittingly as Vegetarian Summerfest, and it is organized by the capable staff of the North American Vegetarian Society. Unlike most formal universities however—where the food is execrable—the food at Vegetarian Summerfest is gourmet vegan fare. It is prepared under the supervision of Ken Bergeron, the first chef in history to win a gold medal for his presentation of vegan cuisine at the International Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt, Germany. So not only do attendees gain knowledge in the lectures and seminars but thanks to the high quality of Chef Ken’s cuisine, they may add an inch or two to their girth. But to forestall any unwanted weight gain, Summerfest organizers invite world-class vegan athletes to put weight-conscious attendees through their paces. One year Dr. Ruth Heidrich—a vegan rawfooder, author of A Race for Life, and winner of eight gold medals at the Senior Olympics—led morning runs. Brendan Brazier, a vegan Iron-man triathlon champion also conducted vigorous exercise workouts.