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Locally Delicious Book Signing

What:

The Heirloom Tomatoes, editors of the recently published Second Edition of Locally Delicious: Recipes and Resources for eating on the North Coast will honor community members that have made a difference with local food issues, Thursday, Nov. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Avalon, Third and G streets in Old Town. Copies of the second edition will be available for purchase and tomatoes will be on hand to sign books.

Heirloom Tomatoes, Ann Anderson, Martha Haynes, Ann King, Carol Mone’, Lauren Cohn-Sarabia, and Suzanne Simpson created the non-profit Locally Delicious™ with the desire to educate the community on food issues, and by providing grant money with funds made from book sales.

Simpson said the second edition has more recipes, an updated and expanded reference section, and more tips and information helping people on the North Coast to live a locavore life.

Honorary Heirloom Tomatoes to be recognized during the book signing are David Lippman, general manager of the North Coast Cooperative, Inc.; Dr. Corey Lewis, professor, Humboldt State University English Department; Beverley Wolfe, co-owner/chef Bizou, Arcata and Avalon, Eureka; Lonnie Grafman, professor, Humboldt State Engineering Department and founder of Appropedia.com; and Sharon Letts, publicist/writer.

Dr. Corey Lewis provided support in many ways and Simpson said, “Corey believed in the project from the beginning and has provided much needed grants, helping us help others.”

Lewis, who grew up on a farm in Kansas, said he watched as corporate interests overcame small farmers.

“Local agriculture to me means being able to protect both our biosphere and our bodies,” Lewis said. “Locally Delicious™ is like having my grandmother in the house, guiding us away from reliance on corporate agribusiness and toward community-based self-sufficiency.”

The Heirloom Tomatoes have tomato names reflecting their personalities. Lewis chose Roman Candle.

 “I’m burning at both ends and may not last through the night, but oh my foes and friends, I give off a lovely light!” Lewis laughed, then on a more serious note said, “Being honored by a group of people you admire and hope to emulate holds a special significance.”

The North Coast Cooperative published the last two Locally Delicious books under the guidance of General Manager David Lippman. He is being honored for the role he played, stating “The recognition is for the Co-op. I’m privileged to be part of this organization that helps and supports so many community groups.”

Lippman’s tomato name, Royal Hillbilly, is served with a sense of humor. “It’s better than what most people might call we who reside in Salyer,” he laughed, and said, “I’m particularly impressed by the ‘leveraging’ of the proceeds from the book, funding local farmers to grow fresh, organic produce for Food for People. That’s a wonderful service to the community.”

Co-owner and Chef of Bizou in Arcata and Avalon in Eureka, Beverley Wolfe, is being honored for her commitment to local food issues, and for using as many local food products in her kitchens as possible.

Raised above a hardware store in Queens, New York, Wolfe said she remembers planting carrot seeds next to trash cans with her grandfather, but blossomed when the family moved to Florida, to what she said was “a gardener’s paradise.”

 “Marmande” a French Heirloom, she said, describes her best as fancy, dependable and slightly tart.

 “Being chosen is astounding to me. I so appreciate these wonderful women reaching out to me and wrapping me into their warm hearth,” Wolfe said.

Lonnie Grafman came to the table early on, inviting the Tomatoes to his Wiki, Appropedia.com, a site for appropriate and sustainable information.

“The Heirloom Tomatoes mix critical importance with fun, like a master chef sustenance with flavor,” Grafman said. “It is humbling to be honored by a group of such amazing, vibrant and effective agents of change.”

Writer Sharon Letts will be honored for her work in getting the word out about local food issues.

“Sharon is our amazing publicist and has guided us through press conferences and interviews, all as a gift to us and the community because she believes in the project,” Simpson said.

Yellow Pear is the name Letts chose for herself, and said, “It was my mom’s favorite tomato to grow, my daughter grew up eating it from our garden, but more specifically to me, it’s prolific!”

Letts said the tomatoes do all the work.

“The Tomatoes are a force to be reckoned with,” she said. “I’m just the messenger, and proud to be a part of the difference they are making in the community.”

Carol Mone´ summed up Letts’ work with wit, “Without Sharon we’d just be tomato paste.”

A book signing for Locally Delicious: Recipes and Resources for Eating on the North Coast, Second Edition will take place Thursday, Nov. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Avalon, 601 Third St., Eureka. Recognition for Honorary Tomatoes scheduled for 7 p.m. For more information, call 445-0500.

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