Our panelists include:

Carter Crain, Sr Director of Food Sourcing & Network Services, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

Carter Crain is a dedicated nonprofit leader with over 15+ years’ experience in food security initiatives. During his time in food banking, he has witnessed and embraced the switch to more fresh local produce and focused on building relationships with growers to harness excess for the good of the community.

Carter started as a Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Bank. This hands-on experience gives him insight on how important fresh produce is to Food Bank partner agencies and the neighbors we serve, solidifying his commitment to ensure that no one goes hungry. Under Carter’s leadership, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina expanded its produce distribution and overall impact on one-third of our state. Distribution has grown from just over forty million pounds per year to over one hundred million pounds in FY22/23. Produce distribution has grown from 15% annually to almost 50% currently.

He loves collaborating with the community and nonprofits to build more solutions to end hunger in our service area and beyond. Personally, he enjoys eating good food and spending time with his wife and twin 8-year-old daughters.

June and Angie Provost, legacy farmers, Provost Farm

June and Angie Provost are esteemed multigenerational sugarcane farmers situated in the enchanting, marshy landscapes of South Louisiana. This accomplished Black farming couple, recognized for their successes and resilience, has emerged as fervent advocates for farmers. Their journey, marked by triumphs and challenges, has propelled them into activism, particularly in championing the rights of socially disadvantaged groups frequently victimized by unjust practices, resulting in a cycle of debt peonage and the disintegration of communities. The Provosts are dedicated to fostering a fair and equitable agricultural landscape for all, striving to create a future where exploitation gives way to empowerment.

Ebony Woodruff, Aspen Food Leaders Fellow and Director of the Agricultural Law Institute for Underrepresented and Underserved Communities, Southern University Law Center

Moderated by David Street, Aspen Food Leaders Fellow and Director of Community Engagement, Feeding America

Join No Kid Hungry/Share Our Strength and Food & Society at the Aspen Institute for “Conversations on Food Justice: The Work of Black Farmers” on July 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET.