Inaugural Black-Owned Farm-to-Table Event Celebrates Juneteenth

Charleston, West Virginia, is set to experience a culinary revolution with its inaugural Black-owned Farm-to-Table event, poised to coincide with Juneteenth. Promising an unparalleled gastronomic journey, this event celebrates the rich heritage and flavors of Black agriculture. 

The sold out event features a four-course meal showcasing Black businesses, farmers and chefs, led by Chef Ke, head chef at Charleston’s Dem 2 Brothers & A Grill. The dinner is Friday, June 21, from 6-8 p.m at Capitol Market. 

Against the vibrant backdrop of the market vendors, Ashley Monique Wright of Dem 2 Brothers & A Grill, alongside Dural Miller and Alecia Allen of Keep Your Faith Corporation, and Evan Osborn of Capitol Market, are collaborating on the four-course meal. Featured dishes include fried green tomatoes, salad with fried oysters and braised short ribs with grits and collard greens, and watermelon sorbet. 

This feast not only tantalizes taste buds but also pays homage to the legacy of Black farmers. This milestone event underscores Charleston’s evolving culinary scene, spotlighting the transformative potential of locally sourced, fresh produce while honoring Black traditions. 

As conversations surrounding food justice and equitable access to nutritious food gain momentum, initiatives like this pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable food system. In anticipation of this groundbreaking event, we reached out to Black West Virginia farmer Jason Tartt, from T&T Organics in McDowell County since he has been representing the forefront of this movement. “Truthfully, black farmers are underrepresented in West Virginia because there is no real education in our community as to what agriculture is in Appalachia or any access to land to do any impactful farming projects.”

Tartt also went on to say, “I think this event is just as important for building education and awareness within our own community as it is for getting the powers that be to extend the proper support. Black people have done amazing work in agriculture throughout history, far beyond the plantation and we need to be connected to that heritage and building upon it.  Integration turned us into a consumer community and severed any ties to us producing and creating for ourselves.  This event shows that we are doing that and can do more. We need to understand these health statistics that are plaguing our communities across the U.S. and how agriculture plays a part in that.”