This post comes to us from fisherman Chris McCaffity from the Walking Fish CSF in North Carolina.
I was
blessed with a chance to help represent Walking Fish at Farm Aid this year.
I was
blessed with a chance to help represent Walking Fish at Farm Aid this year.
 |
| The Walking Fish demo area |
The day
started with a press event featuring Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson and Neil Young.
Several small scale farmers explained how some corporations and politicians are
controlling them and our food supply. Their stories mirrored much of what commercial
fishermen experience. The best chance of survival for independent food
producers is simply for consumers to purchase our products. Voting with our money
can have more impact than voting for most politicians.
started with a press event featuring Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson and Neil Young.
Several small scale farmers explained how some corporations and politicians are
controlling them and our food supply. Their stories mirrored much of what commercial
fishermen experience. The best chance of survival for independent food
producers is simply for consumers to purchase our products. Voting with our money
can have more impact than voting for most politicians.
 |
| Pre-concert press conference |
We were
scheduled first at the skills tent immediately following the press event. The
gates had just opened to the public so our audience was small to start with but
grew through the presentation as a steady stream of people joined us. A chef
from Hatteras demonstrated how to clean some seafood as I talked about how
consumers across the state could access local seafood through Walking Fish.
scheduled first at the skills tent immediately following the press event. The
gates had just opened to the public so our audience was small to start with but
grew through the presentation as a steady stream of people joined us. A chef
from Hatteras demonstrated how to clean some seafood as I talked about how
consumers across the state could access local seafood through Walking Fish.
 |
| Part of Walking Fish’s seafood demo |
After
visiting educational booths with topics ranging from biodiesel to locally
sourced food for schools we got to enjoy some music in a sea of spectators.
visiting educational booths with topics ranging from biodiesel to locally
sourced food for schools we got to enjoy some music in a sea of spectators.
 |
| The crowds enjoy the music at Farm Aid |
My daughter
met Lilly May from the rock band White Stripes. Lilly told us about how one of
her friends fished commercially as she graciously posed for a picture.
met Lilly May from the rock band White Stripes. Lilly told us about how one of
her friends fished commercially as she graciously posed for a picture.
 |
| Making friends! |
It was
inspiring to see so many people supporting independent food producers. Our
collective purchasing power is the key to preserving our freedom to access
healthy food from family farmers and fishermen.
inspiring to see so many people supporting independent food producers. Our
collective purchasing power is the key to preserving our freedom to access
healthy food from family farmers and fishermen.
You can
learn more about Walking Fish at: www.walking-fish.org
learn more about Walking Fish at: www.walking-fish.org
Please
contact Chris if you are interested in learning about how we can sustainably
manage our fisheries to limit waste and produce more seafood. Ask me about how
you can place special orders for the snapper/grouper and other offshore seafood
I harvest. freefish7@hotmail.com