Interested in the future of food in the South?

What's the New South and how should it be eating? I'm on a panel Wednesday night at the UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th St., to talk about that.

UNC Charlotte's Center for the Study of the New South has been hosting a series called "Soul Food: A Contemporary and Historical Exploration of New South Food," that has included a screening of the documentary "Pride And Joy," and will bring writer Toni Tipton-Martin to town for a lecture next month.

On Wednesday night, there will be a panel discussion featuring Cassie Parsons, of Grateful Growers Farm and the new Lincolnton food venture Farmer-Baker-Sausage Maker; Robin Emmons, executive director of Sow Much Good; Timothy Cameron, an associate professor at Johnson & Wales University; and myself. We'll all talk about the future of food in the South, what makes Southern cuisine distinctive, and what we see as the challenges coming up.

The panel starts at 6 p.m. and it's followed by a reception. I'm hoping for lots of audience input. It's free, and there's free parking in the lots at 319 E. 9th St. and 422 E. 9th St., across 9th and Brevard from the new UNC Charlotte Center City building (there are supposed to attendants helping, so look for them).

If you're there, say hey. If you can't be there, drop me a note about what issues you want brought forth, either here or through my email, at kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com.