Center for Environmental Law holds equitable food systems seminar

Tulane Center for Environmental Law will hold a virtual symposium focused on equitable food systems on Friday, April 9.

Experts on various aspects of food systems will come together for three separate panels for intimate, engaging conversation discussing the intersection of water, food, and resilience.

The event is free, and the link is available here.

            The first panel, Boat to Table – Bringing Coastal Seafood to Market, focuses on the needs of small scale commercial fishermen and seafood farms in Louisiana and the difficulties these coastal entrepreneurs face in connecting with retailers and generating community support. Panelists include Rex Caffey and Rusty Gaude, both from LSU Sea Grant, Lance Nacio, shrimper and owner of Anna Marie Shrimp, and Angelina Harrison, Director of Markets at Crescent City Farmers Markets. This panel will be moderated by Robin Barnes.

            The second panel, Farm to ______ – Exploring Demand in Farmer’s Markets, Restaurants, and Schools, will explore the evolving and growing demand for products directly from farmers, particularly local farms that engage in sustainable practices, through farmer’s markets, farm to table restaurants, and farm to school networks. This demand first manifested itself in farmer's markets, which have become ubiquitous in cities across the country, and generated a market for farm-to-table restaurants. Not only that, but now some schools and advocates are seeking to include local produce in school cafeterias. The panelists include Richard McCarthy, founder of Crescent City Farmer’s Market and former president of Slow Food, Dana Honn, executive chef and owner of Café Carmo in New Orleans, and Erika Rincon, the farm-to-school coordinator at Common Grounds farm. Jasmine Nielsen, NYU Food Studies professor and slow food advocate, will moderate. 

            The third panel, entitled Securing Land for Urban Farming Initiatives, will address the needs and issues urban farming organizations and urban farmers have in maintaining consistent access to land. The panelists will include Margee Green, the executive director of SPROUT NOLA, Devon Turner, the executive director of Grow Dat Youth Farms, and Marianne Cufonne from Loyola Law School and Recirculating Farms. Elisa Muñoz-Miller, executive director of New Orleans Food Policy Action Council, will moderate.

            Following the third panel, all panelists and attendees will have a chance to participate in a round table discussion to reflect on the panels and discuss solutions.  Additional information is available here.