Food For Thought: An Indiana Harvest

More than 80 Hoosiers featured in Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest

More than 80 Hoosiers are featured in a book called Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest, commissioned by Indiana Humanities. Featuring first-person narratives and rich photography, the coffee table book captures and shares stories from Hoosiers about the food renaissance taking place across the state.

Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest features a broad spectrum of Hoosiers statewide, like Greg Gunthorp from LaGrange, Ind., whose grass-fed pork and poultry are served by some of the best chefs in the country; Dani Tippmann from Columbia City, Ind., who is reviving the Native American foodways of her ancestors; Lisa Sparks, who says she hates pie, but keeps winning prizes for the best ones in America from her shop in Atlanta, Ind.; Jay Akridge at Purdue University who is training the next generation of farmers; Jesús Alvarez, a Mexican immigrant known as “the Pierogi King” of Whiting, Ind.; and Aster Bekele, who has turned an Indianapolis urban farm into a lifeline for kids in need (a full interviewee list is included, below).

The book is a legacy of the two-year award-winning program called Food for Thought, in which Indiana Humanities encouraged Hoosiers to think, read and talk about food and its role in our lives.

“As we crisscrossed the state with a traveling exhibition and a variety of public programs designed to entice people to talk about food, we met Hoosiers eager to dish out stories about what food means to them,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We glimpsed the pioneering Hoosier spirit in growers, restaurateurs, and others who charge head-on into the challenges of making a living through food. We experienced the creative, entrepreneurial passion that drives people to take risks and introduce food-based innovations. And we observed real efforts to solve the food-based challenges across the street and around the globe. They were stories too rich to keep to ourselves.”

Photographer Kristin Hess and author David Hoppe will go on a statewide book tour, which is funded in part by Farm Credit Mid-America. The tour will include book signings and programs featuring book interviewees at the DuPont Food Pavilion each day at the Indiana State Fair (Aug. 3-19, 4 p.m. weekdays; 3 p.m. weekends), and stops in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Jeffersonville, Chicago and more. Libraries, bookstores and other locations interested in hosting a signing and/or program can contact Kristin Hess at khess@indianahumanites.org . The tour locations include:

Aug. 3-19, Indianapolis (Indiana State Fair)
Aug. 26, Indianapolis (Dig IN)

Aug. 30, New Harmony, IN
Aug. 31, Evansville, IN

Sept. 6, Columbus, IN

Sept. 7-8, Louisville, KY

Sept. 8, Indianapolis (Penrod)
Sept. 9, Starlight, IN

Sept. 10, Jeffersonville, IN

Sept. 27-28, Fort Wayne, IN

Sept. 29, Indianapolis

Oct. 5, Indianapolis (FoodCon 3 at the Harrison Center for the Arts)

Oct. 6, Fair Oaks Farm, Brookston, IN

Oct. 7, Michigan City, Chesterton, IN

Oct. 8, South Bend, IN

Oct. 9-10, Chicago

Oct. 17-18, Southern Indiana cities TBD

Oct. 20, Bloomington, IN

Oct. 23, West Lafayette, IN

Oct. 24, Muncie, IN

Oct. 25, Terre Haute, IN

Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest is published by IBJ Publishing and printed in Indiana. The $24.95 book will be available Aug. 3 online, through local bookstores and at events such as the Indiana State Fair, Penrod, Dig IN, farmers markets, holiday open houses and more. Visit www.IndianaHarvest.com for information.

About Indiana Humanities

Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk. As a convener, leader and partner, Indiana Humanities promotes the public humanities and engages Indiana’s community of minds to create stronger, more vibrant communities. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org .