Rob Nipe is the co-founder and head vegan butcher at Grass Fed, a vegan butcher shop and deli located in Rochester, New York. Originally from New Jersey, Rob transitioned from his previous role as an analyst at the American Red Cross to pursue his passion for creating plant-based alternatives to traditional meats.
His culinary journey began with experimenting to replicate the flavors of his favorite comfort foods—like Philly cheesesteaks and breakfast sandwiches—which led to the development of a diverse range of vegan meats, including pastrami, bacon, and brisket.
Together with his wife, Nora Rubel—a Jewish studies professor at the University of Rochester—Rob established Grass Fed to offer delicious, cruelty-free versions of classic deli favorites. Their commitment to quality and authenticity has made Grass Fed a staple in Rochester’s culinary scene, appealing to both vegan and non-vegan customers alike.
Natasha Siplin is the founder of Soulistic Sweets, a vegan bakery rooted in love, community, and a deep commitment to plant-based living. Her journey began over eight years ago alongside her family, and during the pandemic, she turned her growing passion for vegan baking into a full-time business.
Now celebrating five years in business, Soulistic Sweets offers delicious, nourishing, and cruelty-free desserts that prove indulgence can be kind. Every treat is crafted with love from the soul.
Adam Durand is a filmmaker, web developer, and graphic designer who has spent the past two decades channeling his creativity into animal rights advocacy. He first gained national attention through his work with Compassionate Consumers, a grassroots group he helped found to expose cruelty in animal agriculture. Their 2004 investigation of a Wegmans egg farm sparked national controversy and was covered by The New York Times, ABC News, and City Magazine (formerly City Newspaper), bringing mainstream visibility to the realities of factory farming and the fight for transparency.
Since then, Adam has remained a steadfast presence in the movement, taking part in open rescues, organizing strategic campaigns, and challenging laws that punish people for acting with compassion. His efforts have been highlighted in National Geographic, Vox, and cited in legal scholarship such as Cornell Law Review.
Passionate and principled, Adam invites audiences to rethink what’s possible when we act with courage, strategy, and heart.
Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell are co-directors of the UR Nutrition in Medicine Research Center. They work together to study the effects of dietary intervention on common chronic diseases and will discuss their findings related to type 2 diabetes, advanced breast cancer, and food costs.
Dr. Thomas M. Campbell II is a board-certified family physician and a certified diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He serves as the founder and co-director of the UR Medicine/Highland Hospital Nutrition in Medicine Research Center, where he leads clinical trials examining the effects of comprehensive dietary changes, with a focus on plant-based nutrition, on various diseases.
Dr. Erin Campbell is a board-certified preventive medicine physician at the University of Rochester. She has implemented clinical group programs to help individuals transition to a whole-food, plant-based diet and researches the role of plant-based dietary patterns as therapy in various diseases. She is certified in Lifestyle Medicine, by The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, by The American Board of Preventive Medicine
Dr. Tom Campbell is the co-author of the bestselling book The China Study, written with his father, T. Colin Campbell, PhD. He also authored The China Study Solution, a practical guide to implementing the findings from The China Study. He is a graduate of Cornell University and earned his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Rochester, Highland Hospital.
In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr. Tom Campbell is the Medical Director of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, a nonprofit organization that promotes optimal nutrition through science-based education, advocacy, and research in partnership with eCornell, Cornell University’s online course provider.
Dr. Tom Campbell regularly presents on topics of nutrition and health for both professional audiences and the public. He has published in various medical journals and CME publications. He is also an avid runner, having completed seven marathons.
Catch Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell at Rochester VegFest 2025
Join Drs. Tom and Erin Campbell for an in-depth talk on Nutrition in Medicine, the connection between diet and chronic disease, and learn how plant-based nutrition can play a central role in transforming long-term health outcomes.
Dr. Jim Loomis & Chef Caryn Dugan Where Science Meets the Skillet: Your Prescription for Plant-Based Health
The Doc & Chef is a dynamic wellness duo featuring Dr. Jim Loomis, a board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, and Chef Caryn Dugan, a nationally recognized plant-based culinary educator. Together, they are transforming how people think about food and health through their engaging video series, live events, and educational outreach.
Meet Dr. Jim Loomis
Dr. Jim Loomis is the Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and has served as team physician for the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. He is featured in the documentaries Forks Over Knives and The Game Changers and is an expert in lifestyle medicine, using evidence-based nutrition to prevent and reverse chronic disease.
At Rochester VegFest 2025, Dr. Loomis will speak about the power of plant-based nutrition to transform personal and public health—sharing clinical insights, practical guidance, and stories of healing through food.
Chef Caryn Dugan, also known as “STL Veg Girl,” is the founder of the Center for Plant-Based Living in St. Louis—the first plant-based culinary and nutrition education center in the U.S. After losing her father to cancer and battling her own health crisis, Caryn dedicated her life to teaching others how to thrive through plant-based food.
Join Chef Caryn for a live cooking demo at RVF 2025, where she’ll share a flavorful, approachable plant-based recipe that’s perfect for both seasoned vegans and newcomers alike—proving that eating for health can be delicious and doable.
Together, The Doc & Chef blend cutting-edge medical research with approachable, delicious recipes to help people take control of their health—one meal at a time. Their mission is simple: to make healthy living practical, evidence-based, and irresistibly tasty.
Be a part of Rochester’s most vibrant celebration of plant-based living! The 2025 Rochester VegFest invites local businesses, organizations, and advocates to showcase their support for personal health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.
Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025 Time: 10am – 4pm Location: Parcel 5, Rochester, NY
This year’s theme, Compassion in Action: Eat Plants! Save the Planet!, celebrates plant-based living as a fun and powerful way to align our choices with our values. It’s about showing up for ourselves, our planet, and our fellow earthlings — and exploring how everyday actions can help build a more just and sustainable world.
VegFest 2025 will feature:
Inspiring speakers and panel discussions
Interactive food demonstrations
Delicious vegan food vendors
Live music, yoga, and engaging children’s activities
Become a Vendor
Showcase your products and services to a diverse and passionate audience! Whether you’re a food vendor, business, or nonprofit, we welcome your participation.
Support Rochester VegFest and enhance your visibility within our community. Our sponsorship packages offer excellent promotional opportunities tailored to various levels of engagement:
Tier
Price
Vendor Booth
Recognition
Headline Sponsor
$5000
10′ x 20′ Space, Prime Loation
✔️Top logo on T-shirt ✔️ Website, newsletter, & social media announcements ✔️ Digital ad feature (x2) ✔️ Full page ad in event program
Gold Sponsor
$2500
10′ x 10′ Space, Prime Location
✔️Mid-size logo on T-shirt ✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements ✔️ Digital ad feature ✔️ Full page ad in event program
Silver Sponsor
$1000
10′ x 10′ Space, Prominent Location
✔️ Small logo on T-shirt ✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements ✔️ Digital ad feature ✔️ Half page ad in event program
Bronze Sponsor
$500
10′ x 10′ Space, Prominent Location
✔️ Name on T-shirt ✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements ✔️ Quarter page ad in event program
Advocate
$250
No booth
✔️ Name on T-shirt ✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements ✔️ Logo in event program
Friend
$100
No booth
✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements ✔️ Logo in event program
We also welcome in-kind contributions such as goods, services, or raffle prizes. These donations receive the same recognition as monetary sponsorships of equivalent value.
👉 Contact us here if you’re interested in contributing to our raffle, offering a service, or donating something to enhance the event experience!
We appreciate your support in making Rochester VegFest 2025 an impactful, educational, and joyful experience for our entire community. Together, we can promote compassionate choices for a better future!
The Rochester VegFest is coming back for 2025! While details are still being finalized and vendors are signing up, you can expect incredible vegan food, merch, and more from local vendors, plus cooking demos from plant-based food and health experts as well as guest speakers.
Date: Sunday, August 24th
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Parcel 5, Downtown Rochester
Stay tuned for more! Interested in helping to coordinate or volunteer at the event? Reach out.
Take A Look…
Roc VegFest 2024 was a huge success! We are excited to build on that momentum and bring you another amazing event this summer.
Thank you for attending ROC VegFest 2024! We hope you had a fantastic time. Your feedback will help us create an even better event for next year!
We’ve already received some great suggestions, like adding signs to help locate bathrooms, offering kids’ size t-shirts, and choosing a venue with more shade. Do you agree with these ideas? Or maybe you have more to add? Let us know what you think!
Please take a moment to fill out our attendee feedback survey below. Your input is invaluable to us!
Thank you for helping us make ROC VegFest the best it can be!
After a 5 year hiatus, the Roc VegFest rocked the Roc! About 1,000+ people attended the festival on Saturday, August 24th on a hot, beautiful sunny day at Parcel 5 in downtown Rochester.
Vendors local and far came to Rochester offering vegan food, vegan goods and services, crafts, and information about going vegan. Speakers gave talks about the journey to veganism and attendees could also watch food demonstrations.
After competing in the Rochester triathlon the morning of the Vegfest, I couldn’t wait to get the VegFest to eat! I had the All Bahn Mi-self from Grassfed, a local vegan deli and butcher, it was a grilled lemongrass and coriander marinated tofu sandwich with cilantro, cucumber, jalapeno, pickled diakon, and carrot, liquid aminos, vegan mayo, and scallion ginger oil on a Ciabatto roll with a vegan mac salad and it definitely didn’t disappoint!
The food is a big part of VegFest because this is when people can taste plant-based food and see how delicious plant-based meals (and desserts) can be without harming any animals. Attendees also saw food demonstrations from Ali from Spirit & Abundance, Ryan Jennings from Sweet Pea Kitchen, and committee members, Pearl and Bruce. Food demonstrations are a great way to see how easy plant-based cooking can be (and how you can still get your protein)! They also displayed and offered vegan cookbooks for viewing.
Other vegan restaurants in attendance included Sunshine Vegan Eats, a vegan restaurant from Buffalo; Hollycake House, a local vegan bakery, Fat Cake Baking, and Sweet Pea Kitchen, a local plant-based meal service.
Other vendors included the Rochester Area Vegan Society (RAVS), Ask a Vegan Booth, Mockingbird Farm, Monroe County Recycling, The Herbivore Next Door, Julia Jones, graphic designer – who designed our 2024 vegfest shirts!
Attendees learned about what it means to be vegan, how to eat plant-based, how to recycle, how to promote eating plants, as well as the volunteer and community opportunities to get involved with the vegan community.
As for our speakers, we heard from Dr. Kerry Graff: Veg for Personal Health, Sarina Farb: Veg for the Animals, and Jim Hicks: Veg for the Planet. We learned how we can be vegan for personal health, for the animals, and for the planet.
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