Rediscover and save endangered foods
Mon, Oct 05 2009 at 5:30 PM EST
Read more: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, WHOLE FOODS
Have you ever had a This Louisiana citrus fruit is just one of the many fruits on Slow Food’s US Ark of Taste a program that is “Saving Cherished Foods. One Product at a Time.”
The Ark of Taste is an international catalog of foods that are in danger of being forgotten, and on the US Ark of Taste, there are over 200 foods that are in danger of extinction. How does a food make it onto the Ark? There are several qualifications.
Outstanding in terms of taste—as defined in the context of local traditions and usesAt risk biologically or as culinary traditionsSustainably producedCulturally or historically linked to a specific region, locality, ethnicity or traditional production practiceProduced in limited quantities, by farms or by small-scale processing companies
Slow Food has teamed up with Local Harvest to help those of us who are interested in finding local producers of these endangered foods. By buying the foods and supporting the local producers, individuals can have a hand in helping them get off of the endangered food species list.
Take a look at the list on Local Harvest and find a food that peaks your interest. If you click on it, you’ll be taken to a page that lists producers. There is a drop down menu of states to the right of the producer page to make it easy to find where the food is closest to you.
So if you’re interested in trying Amish Pie Squash or the Green Mountain Potato, find a producer and buy from them before the squash and potatoes are gone for good.
Image: La Grande Farmers’ Market
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Bison?
I'm kind of surprised American Plains Bison is on this list. Buffalo meat has been making such a comeback in recent decades. I can even get it in my meat shop here in downtown Sioux City.