Food Freedom: Centering Equity in Atlanta’s Food System with AgLanta Grown
Sagdrina Jalal, the founder of SageD Consulting, has long understood the important role of local food systems in relation to equity and social justice. With her recent role as Lead Facilitator for the Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit, back with more than a decade of experience advocating for food justice, anti-racist farmers markets, and equity for Black growers, Sagdrina consistently finds innovative and creative ways to activate the local food space with these initiatives in mind.
One of these innovative and creative initiatives manifested in early 2023, after AgLanta Grown, the city of Atlanta’s local food promotion program, approached Sagdrina with a unique proposition: to host a series of events that would help bridge the gap between growers and buyers, with a special focus on uncovering the kind of challenges that Black and brown farmers face in finding buyers.
Centering Black Farmers and Building Equity: SageD x AgLanta's Vision
Together, SageD Consulting and AgLanta are committed to redefining the local food landscape in Atlanta and promoting social justice through innovative approaches. Black farmers, often overlooked and marginalized, face inequities at farmers markets and other distribution points. They want to be included and supported within a system that was designed by and for white individuals.
Through this creative partnership with AgLanta, SageD Consulting actively addresses these systemic barriers and creates opportunities for Black farmers to not only survive, but also to thrive. Leveraging AgLanta’s expertise and resources, SageD Consulting intentionally supports growers through strategic partnerships, nurtures grower-buyer relationships through programming, and advocates for a more sustainable and equitable local food system through policy initiatives.
This partnership is rooted in liberation and celebrates Black excellence at the intersection of food justice and social justice. By creating platforms for knowledge sharing, curating events, and facilitating direct connections between growers and buyers, this partnership amplifies the voices of Black farmers, establishes a supportive network of growers and buyers, and fortifies an inclusive local food landscape.
“I’ve known J. Olu Baiyewu, the Urban Agriculture Director at City of Atlanta, since my early days in local food system work with a small community of producers and advocates. Our work has overlapped quite a bit – we were both 2016 Food Fellows at the Center for Civic Innovation. Not only do our values around food justice align, we share a reverence for the work by our ancestors who paved our paths.”
Past Events: Syncing Contributors and Consumers in Atlanta's Food System
Past events curated by SageD Consulting, such as Grow the Love and the Spring Grower-Buyer Mixer, have played a pivotal role in bringing together key stakeholders, building relationships, and sparking discussions on food justice, land access, and community empowerment.
Grow the Love: February 2023
Dedicated to honoring Atlanta’s Black farmers, the festivities included culinary demonstrations by MenYu and tasty dishes featuring locally-sourced mushrooms from Bread and Butter Farms. Keyatta Mincey-Parker delighted attendees with exquisite handcrafted cocktails, infused with the flavors of Farmer’s Jam cocktail syrup and Pride Road hibiscus tea. DJ Tenisio (@mr._do_it_all) set the rhythm, and the talented farmer and songbird Aja Embry graced us all with her melodies. A panel discussion featured esteemed advocates like Cicily Garret (@blackfoodjustice), J. Olu. Baiyewu (@aglantagrown), Nedra Deadwyler (@nedraknows), Wayne Swanson (@swansonfamilyfarm), Rukia Rogers (@thehighlanderschoolatl), and Wande Okunoren-Meadows (@handheartsoulproject).
Spring Grower-Buyer Mixer: May 2023
The first event of three in a series of curated mixer-style networking events, the Spring Grower-Buyer was a tremendous success! Local food legends gathered at CreateATL to showcase their offerings and connect with like-minded folks at our Spring Grower-Buyer Mixer. Attendees came hungry for Haylene Green’s (@atlgardenqueen) famous Jamaican Vegan Tropical Pumpkin Vegetable Soup and Curry Chicken, along with MenYu’s loaded sweet potatoes, veggie bowls, and mac and cheese.
Open to the public, the event featured an engaging panel discussion on fostering equity in our food system through partnerships. Moderated by Sagdrina with leaders Trinity Harrison (@wholesomewavegeorgia), Paula Seville (@freshharvest), Bill Green (@commonmarketse), EliYahu Ben Asa (@atlantaharvest), Lisa Merva (@marketwagon), Matthew Kulinski (@iamgeorgiagrown), Gabriela Atsepoyi (@sunmarket), and Jamila Norman (@patchworkcityfarms), the conversation gave food for thought. Folks purchased local goodies from vendors like Mama Power Foods (@mamapower_foods), Just Add Honey (@justaddhoney), Val’s Kale Chips (@valskalechips), Farmers Jam (@farmersjamatl), Roxie’s Cookies (@roxiescookies), and MenYu (@menyumealprep).
Featured Farmers who sold products at the mixer included:
A Sip of Paradise Garden (@asipofparadisegarden)
Narrow Way Farms (@narrowwayfarmga)
Rooted Faith Farms (@rootedfaithfarm)
Mama Haylene (@atlgardenqueen)
Grow Where You Are Farm (@growwhereyouare)
Swanson Family Farm (@swansonfamilyfarm)
So, What’s Next?
Farm to Glass, the second event in the Grower-Buyer Mixer series, is happening on July 24th, 2023, and you can grab your ticket now!
Each ticket includes a handcrafted cocktail featuring Georgia Grown-certified Rhoot Man Beverage Company's shrubs and Farmer's Jam peach cocktail syrup, paired with small bites.
Hosted at The Distillery of Modern Art (a new venue for the mixer series!), it's going to be an incredible night of connection, collaboration, and seriously good vibes.
This time, we’re spotlighting local agriculture producers of culinary or medicinal herbs, edible flowers, and various fruits and vegetables used by mixologists. You can expect to participate in facilitated speed dating sessions if you’re a grower/buyer, and if you’re getting a general admission ticket, then you can plan to enjoy interactive bingo-style activities highlighting the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.
No matter your role, this event is an opportunity to engage in conversations about transforming our food system for inclusion and food justice through meaningful connections, knowledge, and partnerships.Come raise a glass to food justice and secure your spot now.
Shout out to other event sponsors: the Marta Market, Georgia Grown, and Georgia Organics for their support in making this event a great experience for all!
Stay tuned for more blog posts about this exciting partnership! To contact Sagdrina about facilitation opportunities for your organization, you can reach out directly to info@sagedconsulting.com or book a 15-minute intro call here.
Growing Justice
Interested in all things local food systems? Be sure to check out “Growing Justice”, an article written by our summer intern, Adrienne Hines, who recently earned a Master of Development Practice with concentrations in Monitoring and Evaluation and Corporate Social Responsibility from Emory University's Laney Graduate School.
In the article, Adrienne discusses the role of farmers markets in “creating sustainable and fair food systems” and shines a light on Sagdrina’s leadership among “10 Black growers and food systems advocates to create the nationally-distributed Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit.”
