Okra up north: how a forgotten heirloom travelled the African diaspora to Toronto
· adria r walker
AI Briefing
- • Okra holds cultural significance in many African-descended communities, particularly in the African diaspora.
- • A Canadian farmer with Jamaican roots is growing an old okra variety to preserve food history.
- • Small-scale farmers of color play a crucial role in maintaining and sharing culturally significant food traditions.
Context
A Canadian farmer with Jamaican roots is growing an old variety of okra. Nicole Austin, who grew up in Oshawa, Canada, recalls that her Jamaican family had trouble finding certain foods they enjoyed back on the island, including okra. Austin's grandmother grew some of these foods in her backyard, but only if she had the necessary seeds.
The work of farmers like Austin is important for maintaining food histories that are culturally significant to African-descended communities. Small-scale farmers, particularly those of color and Black farmers, play a key role in making these foods available and sharing them with their communities.
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