RALEIGH, N.C. — The Raleigh Convention Center is highlighting historically underrepresented farmers with a new menu. 

The A Seat at the Table menu features products from small-scale women and Black, indigenous, and people of color farmers in North Carolina.

Executive chef Phil Evans of Centerplate, the convention center's in-house catering company, says he visited farmers in the state to pick ingredients that would enhance the menu and tell these farmers' stories.

"We want to be able to support the people helping us out the most," said Evans. "And when we went to look at the BIPOC farmers and the artisan farmers that are out there, their product was great and it was undervalued."

Farms featured on the new menu include Sweet Pea Urban Gardens in Raleigh, Pine Knot Farms in Hurdle Mills, and Hines Family Farm in Jacksonville.

In addition to helping the farmers, Evans says the fresh, local ingredients improve the taste of their food.