Sharing Knowledge

This is the time of year that many regional agricultural conferences take place. A few years ago, I took off a Sunday from market to attend one in New York, but this year I went to the Future Harvest CASA (Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture) conference that took place in East Hyattsville, Maryland. This meant it was close enough for me not to skip out on Sunday.Like many conferences, there are pre-conference workshops that are day-long or run for several hours as opposed to the 60 to 90-minute sessions offered during the main two-day event. There was also a trade show, photo contests, meals, and awards—the usual conference stuff. It’s when you walk past another farmer you went to market with years ago and haven’t seen in a while, so you make a bee line to each other for a hug and greetings. There were inspiring speakers, authors signing and selling their latest books, and old sages whom I aspire to become more like the years pass.But something happened this year which I never experienced: market customers went to the conference.They’re not farmers or even aspiring farmers. One is a food professional, but the others wanted to know more about the environment and how their food choices made an impact.“Wow, I never realized how complex farming really is,” exclaimed a long-time Central Farm Market customer who caught up to me in the hallway at the conference center after attending the workshop, Life in the Underground: Healthy Soils, Healthy Plants, Healthy Planet. “How do you manage to learn all this stuff?” he asked.Like everyone else, by reading, attending conferences, workshops, and the best teacher of all—experience.Not everyone wants that type of hands-on knowledge when it comes to their food so here’s where organizations such as Future Harvest CASA steps in. Now in their twentieth year, the non-profit serves the Delmarva region along with West Virginia and Pennsylvania. While that might sound like a huge territory, consider that I can drive to Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia from Pennsylvania in less than an hour. Similarly, take a look at where your market vendors are located. Sound familiar?Future Harvest CASA’s mission, To build a sustainable Chesapeake foodshed from farm and fishery to table, sums up in what we are all interested. Working not only with farmers and fishers, but also with chefs, stakeholders, local, state and federal agencies, and consumers, the nonprofit offers a variety of programs, events and trainings throughout the year geared to a variety of audiences from seasoned farmers to consumers.In addition to many vendors being members, Central Farm Markets takes on responsibility in leadership. Deb Moser, co-owner of Central Farm Markets and Shane Hughes, owner of Liberty Delight Farm are both are members on the non-profit’s board of directors. Similarly, I often see the organization’s Executive Director, Dena Leibman shopping at the market.I am warmed in knowing that there is support from multiple avenues for Future Harvest CASA, including from everyday eaters who may never step foot on a farm or fishing vessel. Food production has a HUGE impact on carbon emissions as well as sequestration. Much of the science is lost on the general public when it comes to global issues such as climate change leading to charged accusations on both sides of the coin. On one side, consumers demand unfettered access to inexpensive food while producers want to farm using environmental and socially responsible practices while remaining financially sustainable. Thanks to organizations like Future Harvest CASA, there is a platform {other than the farmers markets} where producers and customers can come together to figure out how to make our food system work better for the common good of humanity.