The exhibition, held from December 16 to 23, 2024, shared the, often-overlooked, story of Gypsy and Traveller families who have long played a role in agriculture and the agri-food sector in the Occitanie region in the South-East of France. Through a historical lens, the exhibition explored the legacy of garlic and lemon sellers and the successful integration of many Gipsy families into livestock farming and butchery.
The display celebrated generations of skills and knowledge, highlighting their significance for professional inclusion and social recognition. The exhibition was based on an ethnographic and historical study conducted by researchers from INRAE (Research for Agriculture, Nutrition and the Environment) and CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) in Montpellier. It was part of the GITALIM project – an initiative aimed at analyzing the various roles of Gypsies and Travellers in the agricultural and food sectors, beyond their role as seasonal workers – from which one of the Montpelier’s Food Hub activities was built on.
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