St. Johns County will host a free session Nov. 17 to help local restaurants and retailers connect with area farmers and earn a national food-sourcing designation.

The county is partnering with Slow Food First Coast, The Floridian restaurant and the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau to put on the event, according to the county. The session runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at The Floridian, 485 Old Beach Road in St. Augustine.

The focus is the Slow Food Snail of Approval, a designation from Slow Food USA that recognizes producers, restaurants and artisans who source locally or sustainably, practice environmental stewardship and support their communities. Businesses that earn it are listed on a national map maintained by Slow Food USA, according to Slow Food First Coast.

Attendees will walk through eligibility requirements and get a chance to talk directly with farmers about what fruits and vegetables they need and what grows in Northeast Florida by season. County staff will help broker those connections, the county said. The session will also assess broader produce distribution needs across St. Johns County and identify farmers who can supply specific crops, according to the event listing on 904Tix.

Former Snail of Approval holders can attend to renew their status. New businesses can learn how to apply.

"Connecting our local businesses with our farmers creates opportunities to strengthen our local food system while helping businesses better understand what is grown here and when it is available," said Prissy Fletcher, agricultural liaison for St. Johns County.

Fletcher said the event is also a chance to recognize businesses already supporting local agriculture and introduce more businesses to the program.

The Floridian, which is hosting the session, was one of the original businesses in the area to earn the Snail of Approval. Slow Food First Coast, founded in St. Augustine in 2007, is part of a global network of Slow Food chapters operating in more than 160 countries.

The event is free. Registration is open through 904Tix. Businesses that cannot attend can find eligibility details on the Slow Food First Coast website.