Oakland agricultural roots fair

Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) is sponsoring the second annual “Agricultural Roots Fair” September 13 at the Oakland Museum in Oakland. The daylong event will be a harvest celebration that highlights land and culture connections.

“With an increasingly diverse urban population, it is important to broaden outreach efforts and demonstrate how sustainable agriculture is relevant to the pressing issues and initiatives in communities around the state,” said Sibella Kraus, SAGE director.

The fair will feature ethnic music and dance performances, family activities, tastings, ethnic street foods, and a farmers and crafts market representing diverse agricultural and culinary traditions. Educational displays about nutrition, community gardening, recycling, farm-to-school programs, and agri-tourism will emphasize connections between sustainable agriculture and community health. Several new elements are planned this year, including performance programming by La Peña Cultural Center, a youth art and poetry contest about food, a backyard harvest competition, and a culinary students cooking challenge.

A key component of the project is to develop a long-term community-based management structure under the auspices of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fairs and Expositions Division, Kraus said.

SAGE organized the Roots Fair in collaboration with the Oakland Museum of California. Community partners include UC Cooperative Extension Alameda County, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, Friends of the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, La Peña, Laney College Culinary Arts Program, Marin County Farmers’ Market Association, New America Foundation, and Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education. The main sponsor is CDFA’s Divisions of Fairs and Exhibitions; additional funders and sponsors include Bank of America, Columbia Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Epic Roots, GreenLeaf and UC SAREP. For information about the fair check the website www.sagecenter.org or email info@sagecenter.org