Celebrating Juneteenth at Seward Co-op

An African American woman standing in front of a carriage decorated for 1913 Emancipation Day festivities in Corpus Christi, Texas. — Photo from SMU Libraries Archive

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It’s also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and Freedom Day. Although Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued Jan. 1, 1863, it was not always enforced. This left many enslaved people in bondage for another two and a half years, particularly in Texas, the most remote state of the former Confederacy. When the news arrived on June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger announced General Order No. 3, the freedom proclamation, which was read to the people of Texas and effectively freed those still enslaved.

The first Juneteenth celebrations were centered on the church and mostly took place in Texas. Over time, the holiday spread beyond Texas and shifted to a more food-centric holiday. Red foods are often featured at Juneteenth potlucks, as red symbolizes resilience. Bright red hot links, watermelon, hibiscus tea, red pop, strawberry pie, and red velvet cake are all commonly found at Juneteenth celebrations.

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federally recognized holiday. Before that, in Dec. 2020, staff at Seward Co-op voted to swap July 4 as a time and a half holiday in favor of Juneteenth. Our stores also close early, at 8 p.m.

Sustain Black and African Farmers

Black farmers continue to face unequal access to funding and resources. As of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, only 1.4% of the 3.4 million farmers in the United States are Black. Because of these systematic inequities, Seward Co-op’s ability to stock Black-grown crops is limited, but we try to whenever possible. Food and farming can be tools for liberation, and we encourage you to choose them for your summer gatherings and beyond.

Blessings Farm

Black-owned, woman-owned, local, small-scale, sustainable

This summer, we’ll be sourcing okra and garlic from owner Agnes Azeh Tamukong, who recently expanded her farm with the acquisition of an additional quarter acre of land through Big River Farms. According to her profile on The Food Group’s website, “Agnes is a member of the African Immigrant Farmers Association, a nonprofit of farmers and gardeners working to promote a culturally and economically viable, and ecologically sound food system in Minnesota. Her goal is to nourish our community with the freshest, most nutrient-dense vegetables possible using sustainable farming practices that respect the land and create a healthy ecosystem.”

Seward Community Co-op

Celebrating Juneteenth at Seward Co-op

What is Juneteenth?

Meet two of our newer producers: Blessings Farm and Better Greens LLC

Blessings Farm

Better Greens LLC