Tennessee Local Food Summit
Tennessee Local Food Summit Returns for an Impactful 14th Year
On December 6-8, 2024, the Tennessee Local Food Summit was held at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville Tennessee.
Keynote, Chris Batte of Battlefield Farms
The theme of the 14th Annual TN Local Food Summit was "Rooted in Resilience: The Future of Our Food Ecosystem," which featured a range of programming focused on creating a democratized food system, equitable food access, promoting ecological and regenerative agriculture practices, and supporting small farmers' access to new markets and economic viability. The Summit explored how to create a food supply that supports earth’s systems and all its beings, and discussed how embracing diverse, traditional knowledge sources can shape a future where everyone has access to healthy, sustainable food.
200+ attendees, 50+ expert speakers, 31 scholarship recipients, and 23 vendors gathered from across the state of TN and the Southeast region to learn, connect, and organize for a more resilient and sustainable food system. The Summit provides its attendees breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all sourced from local farmers.
The event was organized by a steering committee made up of 17 farmers, educators, and food/agricultural organizations from across the state.
“Through a range of programming, we explored how to create a food supply that supports earth’s systems and all its beings,” said Natalie Ashker Seevers, Executive Director of TN Local Food. “We discussed how embracing diverse, traditional knowledge sources can shape a future where everyone has access to healthy, sustainable food."
Keynote speakers included Chris Batte of Battlefield Farms, who spoke on food deserts and food apartheid as well as Amanda Little, journalist, educator, and author who spoke on her 2019 book The Fate of Food.
Natalie Ashker Seevers spoke to us about what motivates and inspires her hard work. “This event provides high quality educational opportunities and essential resources for our community, but we find that the most important part is the community building. So many of us work together and are in communication over email and on Zoom calls throughout the year. Nothing compares to being together in person and enjoying a meal in community. Bearing witness to the partnerships and collaborations that grow and blossom from the TN Local Food Summit each year inspire us and confirm how essential these convenings are to our organizing for a better food future."
To follow Natalie and the amazing team at TN Local Food, head to tnlocalfood.org.