The North Central NAMA Chapter celebrated National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 19, with an event focused on food and agriculture. The event hosted more than 35 guests at Heartland Restaurant, St. Paul. Executive Chef Lenny Russo welcomed the group and shared the unique story behind the restaurant and farm direct market. Everything in the market is sourced from local and regional farmers, including the bar beverages.

A majority of the event was focused on round-table discussions about where consumers seek information about food, those who produce it and how it is produced. The round table discussion leaders included:

• Emily Zweber (@agchatfound), executive director, AgChat Foundation
• Paul Hugunin (@MNagriculture), domestic marketing team supervisor, Minnesota Grown
• Emily Mohn-Nalevanko (@MNfarmmomma) and Shawn Augustine (@whoeatslikethis), working moms active on social media
• Jane Shey (@CityMinneapolis), coordinator, Homegrown Minneapolis

Comments heard during and following the event included:

• “The money you spend on food is not a cost – it’s an investment.”
• “Our (restaurant) believes in sustainability because we believe in sustaining the people on that land.”
• “Today we’re not competing with grocery stores, we’re competing with movie theaters.”
• “After hearing everything tonight, I want to visit a farm and really see where my food comes from.”

The North Central NAMA Chapter thanks Heartland Restaurant, the discussion leaders and those in attendance for the opportunity to have such a lively and relative discussion on food and its origins.