For the first time, the Appalachian Food Summit will meet in West Virginia and, in fact, Bridgeport. From Sept. 14-16, a community of writers, scholars, advocates, restauranteurs, farmers, producers, chefs and mountain foodways enthusiasts – all with a shared mission to sustain the food and people of Appalachia – will gather at Bridgeport Conference Center for the 4^th Annual Appalachian Food Summit.

 

“The Appalachian region - encompassing 13 states – formed this organization to promote Appalachian culture, heritage and food,” said Debbie Workman of Bridgeport Farmers Market board of directors. “They pick one particular place in the Appalachian region to have the summit every other year.”

 

Past summits have been held in Hindman and Berea, Ky., as well as Abingdon, Va.

 

Workman said West Virginia is the only state that is entirely in Appalachia. She is happy that our state and city were chosen to host this year’s summit.

 

“We feel like we have one of the better local food cultures in the state and a lot of that has to do with the farmers market,” she said.

The theme of this year’s event is “Cornbread and Roses: Solidarity, Resistance and Subsistence in Appalachia,” aimed at exploring Appalachia’s rich history of labor and activism through food.

 

In addition to various activities associated with the summit, Appalachian Food Summit Day is Sunday, Sept. 16 and Bridgeport Farmers Market will, as always, be open for business 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. and will feature some special workshops and demos.

 

The summit is somewhat of a “kitchen table” for Appalachian foodways stakeholders, where everyone is invited to pull up a chair for a diverse, inclusive and multi-sector conversation. According to Workman, there’s a lot on the table. The public is invited to get involved.

Tickets for both the program ($25) and Saturday evening dinner ($40) are available for purchase at https://ww.appalachianfood.com/2018-appalachian-food-summit.