This Thursday, I am attempting to give a pulse reading of where we are as a food
region/community. I am defining this region as the East End of Long Island, and including everyone in the food community. Yes, farmers and chefs may be the most obvious players, but we are all included because we all participate by eating, if in no other way. I will be able to speak from my experiences and observations and I will prompt others to speak, as well. To facilitate the conversation, I will be joined by some of those with whom I have worked through the years.

We are ready for an awakening. We are ready to wake up in the way in which we relate food, culture, and community. We have been asking for it without quite
knowing that we are and without quite knowing what it means and what it might look like. However, on Long Island’s East End the groundwork has been laid. We are ready to see the web we would like to form together. The first step is to recognize where we are collectively.

PRODUCER: Steven Shepsi Eaton

Steve has had the opportunity, over the past 8 years, to gain insight into the food systems of the East End of Long Island. His desire to get ever closer to the "source" of his food has led him to take part in food’s every aspect -- growing, selling, distributing, preparing, marketing, serving, and enjoying. Endeavors have ranged from running his own private catering business, to selling his own produce at farmers markets, to delivering veggies for other farmers, to purchasing produce and farm fresh items for a market and cafe. Steven's interest in the connection between food, culture, and community has grown stronger and evolved through the years. Gathering information from all sides, especially in his current role as Produce Manager at Provisions Natural Foods in Sag Harbor, he feels this is a crucial time for us to communicate and cooperate about where we are as a community and where we hope to go.