Our Green Zebra

Perched over the twisting vine, my hands reach for a behemoth heirloom
tomato. I feel the plump juiciness, still warm from the summer heat—
it’s all undeniably big. There is nothing like a summer tomato, really.

Our luscious friend, despite our love, has a mysteriously sexy and dark
 presence. A member of the solanaceae family derived from the Latin
Solanum or nightshade plant, it was once thought that a bite could kill.
Now we know better and gorge when the plants offer up their bounty.
No need to act prim—the proper way is to let the juice run down your arms dripping on your legs. It’s a refreshing act.

Tomatoes run the gamut of sizes, petite and perky to billowing; colors, deep velvety rouge, pinkish, limey-green, sunny yellows and oranges. Quirky shapes and names like Green Zebra, Earliana and Oxheart.

Like tomatoes, the sustainable food movement is a mix of people around the world looking for answers. The movement is challenged by big business, multi-million dollar marketing campaigns, diet schemes, lack of education or misguided souls. And it appears that socioeconomic status has little to do with people’s food choices.

Our EcoGastronomy students, again like tomatoes, have a similar coveted and well faceted presence. The dual major draws a diverse crowd who want to see change, who want to eat real food, who want to take part in something bigger—and they will.

Bruised tomatoes will not be catapulted at our opponents. Together we’ll make sauce and eat at the same table.

Amy Winans
Lecturer Hospitality Management and EcoGastronomy