Hot on the heels of the Fifth Potato Festival in Peru, which we mentioned a few days ago, comes the Festival Nacional de la Agrobiodiversidad Frutos de la Tierra, also in Peru, 24-26 June. And, not to be outdone, Ecuador weighs in with the I Seminario Internacional de la Papa, also on 24 June. One has to wonder what is driving this proliferation of agricultural events in the region. And since we’re on the subject of Andean diversity, does anyone else think that some of the potato varieties illustrated by National Geographic are nothing of the sort?
On the first, I’d throw the culinary heritage movement and the Gaston Acurio phenomenon into the pot. On the second, agreed.
Is that the Gaston of Gaston y Astrid? If so, Wow! Best meal I ate in Lima.
What is interesting to me is the proliferation of these events down in Lima, because there have been lots of these events in small Andean villages and towns for quite a while. I know that some folks at CIP have been hoping that if Andean crops became trendy in upscale Lima restaurants, that would help change the idea that these are “low status” foods, fit only for indigenous peasants. Maybe this is actually beginning to work.
And, of course you already know what I think about those five oca tubers that they included among their “potato” varieties. Wouldn’t it have been nice if they had actually used the opportunity to inform people about the OTHER Andean tuber crops, instead of only focusing on potatoes?
Was it five? I counted four and a possible mashua. But I’m no expert.
Speaking of Peruvian food…