Slow Food North Louisiana will host its second heirloom food forum, this year in partnership with Cultural Crossroads of Minden.

The event will feature the heroic efforts of the North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program to track down and bring back to life regional foods believed to be extinct due to the impacts of industrial food production and budget cuts. In particular, we will hear the story of how the North Louisiana born Red-N-Sweet watermelon was not only re-discovered but is now on the Slow Food Ark of Taste! Attendees will will learn more about how to acquire and save heirloom seeds in North Louisiana. 

Featuring guest speakers:

• Joshua ("Fitz") Fitzwater, Richmond, VA-based writer, photographer and founder/publisher of Southern Grit Magazine.

• Debra ("Deb") Freeman, a food writer and anthropologist focusing on Black culinary history.  Creator of  the podcast Setting the Table and executive producer and host of the Emmy-winning documentary Finding Edna Lewis

The morning session will be followed by a seasonal lunch prepared by Minden-based Chef Hardette Harris of Us Up North and creator of The Official Meal of Northern Louisiana. After lunch, there will be a screening of the documentary Finding Edna Lewis followed by a conversation with the film host Deb Freeman.

Ticket Information:

• Advance ticket sales only; sales end 11/14; no tickets sold at the event.

• Limited quantity

• $40 general admission, $35 current Slow Food members (discount code sent to email)

Proceeds from the event support the programs of Slow Food North Louisiana and Cultural Crossroads of Minden. Both organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations supporting local foodways of northern Louisiana.