1. Tasting Arizona: Connecting a sense of place (and fun) to your taste buds Patty West paw3333@yahoo.com 928-607-3162

2. Tasting the World: Visitors want the local flavor The customer is the driver.

3. Tasting Arizona: Taste your place What does Arizona taste like? tangy pine needles pungent sagebrush grapes from lush canyons What would your area taste like?

4. Tasting Arizona: What would innovation look like (or taste like)... Local foods would be linked to activities. Traditional foods would be served on tours. Visitors and residents would have access to local foods. Here are some examples...

5. Tasting Arizona: Example-Taste the Wild Add wild food walks into tours. Connect wild food to wildlife. Savour wild foods you can find. Preserve what you love (and love to eat).

6. Tasting Arizona: Introducing new flavors Bring foods in in familiar ways Example: Mesquite flour

7. Tasting Arizona: Reviving Heritage Foods Communities are strengthening their food traditions Harvest festivals are celebrating success Youth are getting involved More varieties are being grown People are reconnecting food to place

8. Tasting Arizona: Challenges Decreases in locally produced food Water used for development Lack of place-based agriculture Losses of agricultural diversity Addiction to “out-of- season” foods Distribution mechanism not based on small production

9. Tasting Arizona: First Step Re-growing our food system  Bringing back farmers markets  Supporting local farms  CSAs  Showing our demand for local foods  Growing our own food  Participating in community gardens  Contributing to organizations that are helping maintain and strengthen your food systems  Restoring orchards

10. Tasting Arizona: Collaborations are the Key Innovations The strength of using food is that it is a commonality that brings people together to achieve their common goals.

11. Tasting Arizona: Partners Local growers (farmers and ranchers)‏ Foragers of wild foods Restaurants Food enthusiasts University researchers Plant and seed sellers Heritage food growers Youth gardens Community gardens  Tourism providers  Farmers markets  Non-profit organizations (Native Movement, Native Seeds SEARCH, Slowfood USA, etc.)‏  Tribes  Schools  Hospitals  National and State Parks (Slide Rock)‏  Festival organizers

12. Tasting Arizona: Strategies for moving forward Forging creative collaborations to support the food system. Bringing visitors together with local communities to benefit both. Creating festivals that celebrate the food of the place.

13. Tasting Arizona: National Heritage Areas

14. Tasting Arizona: Heritage Orchard Restoration  Find varieties of fruits that were once in your area.  Strengthen varieties which are present, but declining.  Having workshops for residents and visitors.  Creating festivals that celebrate the food of the place. Collaboration with Arizona State Parks

15. Tasting Arizona: Festivals and Feasts Sponsor local festivals that celebrate place- based foods. Collaborate with local producers and collectors to feature foods specific to the area. Invite local chefs to prepare local foods in a way that ensures a positive first experience with foods.

16. Tasting Arizona: Food tours Create maps of place- based food places of interest  Small farms  Production facilities  Restaurants  Farmers markets  Wineries

17. How can you connect visitors to a place with local foods? Help visitors discover foods that are from the place you live. Express to growers your desire to include local foods in your tours. Work with them! Support local farmers, ranchers and foragers by bringing visitors to them. Include food production, preparation and culture in tours.

18. Why innovate? When and How to innovate? What are the challenges and opportunities? Who to innovate with?

19. Thanks The Center for Sustainable Environments The Center for Desert Archaeology The NAU School of Hotel and Restaurant Management Native Seeds SEARCH Arizona State Parks Board EMA Slowfood USA RAFT