Hoosier Thoughts

photography: Amanda Marsalis

Alice Waters

Get Inspired!

Learn more about the courageous people improving our food system.

Edible Schoolyard Project | Berkeley, CA | EdibleSchoolyard.org The Ron Finley Project | Los Angeles, CA | RonFinley.com The Land Institute | Salina, KS | LandInstitute.org Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard | Bloomington, IN | MHCFoodPantry.org North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems | Minneapolis, MN | NATIFS.org country. The magazine invited many of the top chefs to New York City to cook a dish for this lavish party. Out of the 25 chefs, Waters was the only woman. And while the other chefs all prepared elaborate dishes—salmon quenelles, a lobster extravaganza—Waters made a simple mesclun salad.

I can just imagine Waters, with her delicate frame, presenting her salad in front of a herd of competitive male chefs. The statement, however unintentional it may have been, was profound. Food doesn’t need to be complex to be delicious. What could be simpler than green salad? It’s all about freshness!

In the first passage of her new book, Coming to My Senses, Waters talks about her attitude towards cooking: “First I’m at the farmers’ market. I am looking for fruits and vegetables that are perfectly ripe … things that were just picked. I’m not necessarily thinking about how the ingredients will go together—I’m just responding to what I’m finding … I’m using all of my senses … I don’t quite know what I’m going to cook … I’m improvising, trying to capture a moment in time.”

Of course, this doesn’t exactly answer the question of how to save the world. There is no ONE thing that will fix everything. Although, perhaps beginning to rekindle our relationship with our farmers is the best place to start. Places like Chez Panisse are literally reshaping the food economy by creating pathways for local organic farmers to sell their produce, and although we cannot expect fine-dining restaurants to feed the world, we can walk in their wake.

Chefs like Bloomington’s Erika Yochum, Nashville’s Jeremy Chase Barlow, Minneapolis’s Sean Sherman, Cambridge’s Will Turner and hundreds of other unsung local food heroes are doing this work around the country, finding the farmers and creating the pathways for a new food economy. Meanwhile, countless nonprofits (see sidebar) are bringing the skills of food production back to the general populace.

As long as there are idealists out there, pushing to be the change they want to see, then little by little, the art of learning to cook and to eat intuitively will transform our food system for the better. To love food is to love the land. When we begin to immerse ourselves in the processes behind our food, not out of fear but out of love, change will come.

Go ahead, taste and see.

Francisca Figueroa was born in Indianapolis. She graduated from Indiana University with degrees in global food systems and Italian. She lives in Bloomington where she works as an artist and president of the nonprofit organization Journey Circle.

FROM FARM TO FORK

Support your LOCAL farmers, artisans and producers, the slow foods of our community.

Brownsburg Farmers Market

The Town of Brownsburg and IU Health West Hospital partner to bring fresh produce, artisan baked goods and handcrafted items to local shoppers every Thursday at the Brownsburg Town Hall Green. Accepts: SNAP, WIC. 61 N. Green St., Brownsburg, brownsburg.org/farmersmarket. Thursdays 4–7pm June 7–Sept. 6

Noblesville Main Street Farmers’ Market

Join us for the oldest and largest farmers market in Hamilton County, with more than 80 vendors featuring local artisan products, produce and more! Visit Facebook or website for event day information. Accepts: SNAP, WIC 839 Conner St., Noblesville. Saturdays May 5–Oct. 13, 8am–noon

Teter Organic Farm

Our farm grows sustainably grown, chemical-free vegetables and raw honey. Join our CSA program for an amazing selection of organic produce or find us at the Noblesville Farmers’ Market. 10980 E. 221st St., Noblesville, TeterOrganicFarm.com

Tuttle Orchards

Celebrating 90 years of providing top-quality produce, plants and agricultural experiences to visitors. Visit our farm store year-round with 200+ local Indiana items. Our café is open year-round with fresh eats, treats and tours. We have tours, events, a greenhouse and CSA program. Look for our fall activities, festival, apple picking, pumpkin patch and more! 5717 N. County Rd. 300 W., Greenfield, TuttleOrchards.com

Indy City Market’sIndy City Market’sIndy City Market’sIndy City Market’s THE ORIGINAL FARMERS’ MARKET

222 E MARKET STREET (LOCATED JUST TWO BLOCKS EAST OF MONUMENT CIRCLE) VISIT WWW.INDYCM.COM FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MERCHANTS, HOURS, AND MORE 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018

EVERY WEDNESDAY, 9:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M., MAY - OCTOBER

PRODUCE • BAKED GOODS • DAIRY MEATS • FLOWERS • AND MUCH MORE

@INDYCM

Saturdays, May 19-September 8

New hours: 9:00am-1:00pm

131st St. & Olio Rd., Fishers

presented by: Saxony Hospital

www.saxonymarket.com

grown for you

EskenaziHealth.edu | 317.880.0000