Delicious homemade pies were offered to the public free during the Food Summit event. (Photo by Jordan Thomas Hall)
By JORDAN THOMAS HALL
The first Appalachian Food Summit: A Celebration of Our Appalachian Food Heritage was held Sunday at the Hindman Settlement School.
The multi-state gathering, the first of its kind, brought together authors, chefs, farmers, advocates, scholars and consumers dedicated to preserving traditional Appalachian foodways and supporting a future where farming, local food and culinary tourism are part of economic development in the region.
Hindman Settlement School Program Director Brett Ratliff helped to bring the event to Hindman.
The day’s program was offered free to the public and included a “pie-luck” brunch for people to sample sweet and savory pies and sides to eat during midday.
The Summit concluded with a dinner sponsored by Appalachia Proud, the new Kentucky Proud brand that designates food products produced in a 37-county region of Eastern Kentucky.
“Appalachia Proud is a comprehensive movement aimed at generating economic development through agriculture in Eastern Kentucky,” state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said. “Appalachia Proud raises consumer awareness of the region’s many outstanding food producers and its rich food heritage.”
The contemporary catfish-based dinner was prepared by acclaimed chef Travis Milton, a native of Castlewood, Va., with produce, dairy, and meats from mountain farms in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Kentucky and Appalachia Proud farmers and producers to be featured at the dinner include HF Farms, Friends Drift Inn Farm Produce, Climax Spring Water, Curehouse dry-cured hams, and Holbrook Brothers Sorghum.
“Food binds us all together,” expressed Milton. “Food venues are a good opportunity to address issues in our society (education, drugs, poverty, etc.) and holding such an event in the focus area is key, hopefully serving also as an economic boost. For the things I couldn’t buy locally-sourced, I at least bought locally, helping the economy- and I think that’s very important.”
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