Letter from the Editor: Summer 2020

Cheers to 10 years!

I’m so grateful to Jamie and her team for what they have created in Edible Madison over the past decade. Jamie’s dedication to our region’s foodshed and her devotion to the people who make up our local food community is evident on every page of every issue. Steering the ship through 40 seasons is certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating. She has mentored me through the transfer of ownership of the magazine and for that I am indebted to her. Christy, Cricket and I have relished working with Jamie and the rest of her team on this jointly produced 10th Anniversary issue.

When we first started planning this issue, I could never have imagined how different life would look just a few months later. Before, we took so much for granted. The buzzy hum of a packed restaurant. Squeezing through a crowded bar, hoping to catch the bartender’s attention. Quick, carefree trips to the grocery store or the winter farmers’ market, just to pick up a few things. Greeting friends and family with hugs, sharing air, sharing drinks, sharing food.

For a moment mid-quarantine, it felt as though rampant banana bread baking and tending to the needs of infant sourdough starters were perhaps the only things keeping us from slipping into collective insanity. But isn’t it encouraging that when forced to slow down and consider what is truly essential, feeding our loved ones floats to the top of the list? This return to the kitchen gives me hope that our local food system will rebound, forever changed but stronger than before. Regardless of what is happening in the wider world, there is always a yearning for good food that nourishes bodies and the planet.

As we live through a still-unfolding revolution for racial justice, we’re hopeful that we will see meaningful change in our society as a whole, and it starts with us, as individuals, examining what role we can play. Together with Cricket and Christy, our team has been reflecting on what we can do to aid in the dismantling of systemic racism, especially as it relates to our food system. We commit to continually and proactively diversifying our pool of contributors. We invite everyone in our community, especially BIPOC, to submit editorial ideas.

There are so many worthy stories to tell right here in southern Wisconsin that even 41 issues in, Edible Madison has barely scratched the surface. We look forward to bringing in fresh storytellers to help us propagate the good food movement!

Recent events may have rocked the world, but instead of waiting for things to go back to normal, let’s begin again. Let’s leave behind what was no longer serving us and come back stronger than before. Here’s what I know: We are hungry. Hungry for a more just and equitable world. Hungry for food that nourishes our bodies and our communities. Hungry for food that reflects our values. Hungry for food that connects us to our neighbors.

Let’s dig in.
Lauren Langtim, Managing Editor