I greet you today with the reminder that in every difficulty, there is an opportunity. Despite the chaos, now is the time where we must remain clear eyed and focused, and see the opportunities that are now in front of us.
While reliance on government funding and support is being taken away, including the restrictions and limitations that came with it, we are presented with the opportunity to rebuild the future we want, one built on the stronger foundation of food sovereignty and self-sufficiency to meet our needs. We have no choice but to become stronger and more empowered as a Black community.
In keeping with our mission and strategic goals to create new opportunities and income for Black farmers and producers, and ensure food and nutrition security for our communities, we have formed partnerships with HBCUs across the Mid-Atlantic region. Historically, HBCUs have been pillars of empowerment, now we are reconnecting for food sovereignty and economic empowerment.
To meet these goals, we have launched the Mid-Atlantic Black Farmers Market HBCU Tour and will be kicking it off this Spring on the campus of historic Hampton University. Rooted in history, I couldn’t think of a better place to launch our tour. Not only was Hampton, VA the location where the first enslaved Africans were brought 400 years ago, enslaved due to their agricultural expertise, but HU has its own agricultural roots, originally founded as the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. We have an opportunity now to continue in that legacy and help reverse the trauma and pain the institution of slavery has had over us.
If you are a farmer or producer of agricultural products, I hope that you will consider joining us to showcase your products and services on Booker T. Washington lawn, across from Emancipation Oak, on Saturday April 12th. We want to bring the full force and show people that Black farmers are still here!
Hampton University has gotten fully behind this effort and have dedicated all of their digital assets to advertise and market this historic event, including: I-64 Billboard (which gets over 20,000 passengers per day), Campus Marquee, CC-TVs monitors around campus advertising to students and staff, University website and the University’s radio station WHOV-FM.
For those interested in vending please use VENDOR THIS FORM. For questions or more information, you can email blackfarmersmarket@hamptonu.
If you have a desire to vend or showcase your products but have a date conflict, we are preparing to have a table manned by a paid volunteer for those who cannot make it. For this arrangement, the cooperative will need to charge a 15% overhead fee on products sold, in order to cover the operating costs and expenses of marketing and selling them. For this arrangement, please contact myself or Navi at rvablackfarmersmarket@gmail.
