The afternoon of Sunday, April 14, was rainy and dreary, but the energy inside the Durham Co-op cafe was bright and lively! To celebrate its fourth anniversary, the Durham Co-op invited some of the most innovative local community partners working to improve our food system for a panel discussion entitled “Seed to Store.” Each participant talked about the role they play in the journey that starts at the farm and ends on the grocery store shelf…and on our plates at home. Farmer Foodshare was honored to be part of the conversation!
Shep Stearns of Farmer Foodshare’s Wholesale Market (second from left) joined Jacob Rutz, Executive Director of The People’s Seed, Jennifer Curtis, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Firsthand Foods, Sandi Kronick, CEO of Eastern Carolina Organics, and Kamal Bell, CEO of Sankofa Farms.
Durham Co-op Community Outreach Coordinator Raafe Purnsley (far right) organized the event and moderated the lively discussion.
The group told stories, swapped ideas, shared plans for the future, and answered questions from the audience. “We have a really vibrant local food system,” said Shep. “It was just so exciting to have all these great minds in the same room!”
It was an enlightening afternoon, and Farmer Foodshare is grateful to all the panelists, attendees, and the Durham Co-op for making it happen.