The Culinary Breeding Network is thrilled to announce the eagerly anticipated 10-year anniversary of the Variety Showcase event, taking place on Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Redd on Salmon. Tickets on sale here.
This milestone event promises an unforgettable experience of connection, learning, and tasting, as they celebrate a decade of cultivating community and culinary innovation, and we are excited to participate.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to sample new and in-development vegetable, fruit, nut, bean and grain cultivars, including the much-anticipated release of two new varieties of low-heat habanero peppers - 'Mild Thing' and 'Notta Hotta' - from renowned and retiring Oregon State University vegetable breeder, Jim Myers.
The focus of the Variety Showcase is to shed light on the significance of organic seed. The event attracts a diverse array of stakeholders, including plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, bakers, distillers, retailers, distributors and consumers, and serves as a catalyst for community building and collaboration, fostering connections that inspire innovation.
During the event, more than 40 chefs and bakers will collaborate with plant breeders to create dishes featuring specific cultivars or breeding lines, showcasing the diversity and potential of organic seed. The seed work showcased will address a wide range of critical issues and reflect organic breeders’ values, including climate resilience, nutritional density, biodiversity preservation, cultural heritage, spiritual significance, seed sovereignty, and more.
According to Culinary Breeding Network Director, Lane Selman, "At this event, the curtain is pulled back and attendees are introduced to the wizards making critical decisions before our farmers plant their seeds. It's a unique chance to network, build community, and meet the plant breeders creating flavorful varieties for organic farmers."
This event is made possible in part by funding from the USDA-NIFA-OREI project “Value-Added Grains for Local and Regional Food Systems III” and the ODA-SCBPG project "Collaborative Market Development for Climate Resilient Vegetables in Oregon."
Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of food, community, and innovation! Join us in breaking down the barriers between eaters and breeders at the Culinary Breeding Network Variety Showcase 2024.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
About the Culinary Breeding Network:
The Culinary Breeding Network is dedicated to bridging the gap between plant breeders and eaters. Its mission is to create unique opportunities for stakeholders to engage with in-development vegetable and grain cultivars, share insights, and actively contribute to the creation and preservation of flavorful, resilient varieties suited to organic systems. Learn more at their website here.