Raison d’etre – The thing that is central to one’s existence. Literally, ‘reason for being‘.
FLORENCE – Giles McDaniel, Executive Director of the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, believes his Raison d’etre, it to help grow locally inspired businesses. And so, when he had the opportunity to host the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation & Development Council’s quarterly meeting, he jumped at the opportunity.
Charley Meek – Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation & Development Council
The Council conducts community- based projects to help make our part of Alabama be a better place to live. This quarterly meeting focused on the economics of producing and marketing locally produced farm products. “We’re all about local jobs, keeping money in our communities,” said Charlie Meek, Executive Director of the Council, “And we felt that this was a great time to showcase some of the products that we can raise here locally.”
The way Meek made his point was to serve a great lunch to Council members and guests with locally produced farm products. Nickie Campbell of the Entrepreneurial Center’s Culinary Kitchen facility produced a meal of locally grown vegetables, and several different recipes of lamb. (One of the benefits of working for the Quad-Cities Daily is the food.)
Meeks noted that it simply isn’t desirable to ship a food product two-thousand miles to a grocery store, when the same product can be grown locally and delivered fresh from the farm. Better nutrition, vitamins and better flavor are the key reasons to become locavores. For the un-initiated, a locavore is someone who is interested in food that is locally produced and not moved great a distance to market.
Charlie Meek wtih Giles McDaniel, Executive Director of Shoals Entrepreneurial Center
“Let’s grow the food locally. Let’s sell the food locally. Let’s keep the money in our own communities. By working toether, we can make a difference. We can support out local farmers. We can support our local entrepreneurs like the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center is doing with its Clients.”
Kathryn Strickland – Executive Director Foodbank of North Alabama
The featured speaker for the meeting was Kathryn Strickland, Executive Director of the Food Bank. of North Alabama. Based in Huntsville, the Food Bank of North Alabama serves 11 counties across the northern part of Alabama.
“The RC & D Council is an incredible partner and supporter of projects across North Alabama. And they are now taking a particular interest in strengthening our local food production system so that everyone has access to fresh, healthy food choices, Strickland told the Quad-Cities Daily. “We want to encourage residents across North Alabama to support local farmers and locally owned food-based businesses to keep their food dollars within the local economy.”
