Renewing America's Food Traditions Up North
Renewing America's Food Traditions is an alliance of organizations that joined together to safeguard foods currently at risk in the landscape, and bring a greater diversity of these back to our tables. RAFT is expanding its work in the Great Lakes region over the next couple years, and as part of that effort, RAFT founder Gary Nabhan visited Northern Michigan in October 2008 to meet with local farmers, botanists, historians, fishers, chefs and others.
In 2008, the RAFT Alliance published Renewing America's Food Traditions: Saving and Savoring the Continent's Most Endangered Foods. Edited by Nabhan and published by Chelsea Green Publishing, the book beautifully profiles a selection of culinary treasures unique to the North American continent. From the California Mission Olive to the Ossaba Island Hog from Georgia's barrier islands, the book tells the stories of these foods, along with photos and recipes for each.
Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2008
Posted by Paula McIntyre
From roasted tomato hornworm larvae, to pit-roasted cactus flowers, Gary Paul Nabhan has sampled his share of foods unfamiliar to most of us in northern Michigan. A renowned ethnobiologist, conservationist, MacArthur "genius grant" recipient and author, Nabhan has traveled the globe, searching out the stories and tastes of many a region's traditional foods. But his efforts aren't about saving these foods for the museum shelves; instead, he aims to get these foods back on our plates to savor and enjoy. "Eat it to save it" sums up the approach. Read on for our interview with Gary and his upcoming visit to northern Michigan. (This piece will also appear in next week's Northern Express.)
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Friday, Sep. 26, 2008
Posted by Paula McIntyre
If you care about developing a strong local foods economy, or you just like to eat good food, or you want to get inspired and informed listening to two wise voices, including the man dubbed "father of the locavore movement" plan to be at Horizon Books Lower Level on October 10. Enjoy a local foods tasting, followed by a book signing and reading with Gary Nabhan and Stephanie Mills, rounded out by music from Barbara Jordan. What's not to love? Read on for details...
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Friday, Sep. 12, 2008
Posted by Paula McIntyre
We need your help! The Renewing America's Food Traditions collaborative currently estimates that Michigan may have as many as 50 wild foods and more than 300 historically cultivated foods at risk. Help us identify foods in need of recovery so that we can get them back on our tables!
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Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Posted by Paula McIntyre
In this essay, Gary Paul Nabhan, founder of Renewing America's Food Traditions, recounts the birth of a native Michigan apple, the Shiawassee Beauty. In so doing, he urges us not only to get reacquainted with historic fruits that might be tucked away in an abandoned orchard nearby, but to restore them too. Find out what you can do!
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