Escapees July-August 2024

AGRICULTURAL By EVANNE SCHMARDER , #65409

E stablished by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the US Department of Agriculture took a historic step, in 1898, by founding the Of fi ce of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. Tasking a team of botanists known as Agricultural Explorers with seeking out exotic crops and introducing them to American soil, this initiative transformed the landscape of agriculture. These explorers’ global journeys were often arduous, spanning continents and encountering a wide range of receptions, from warm welcomes to life-threatening situ ations. They carried out their mission and enriched American agriculture with fruits, vegetables, grains, livestock, cotton—even the beautiful Japanese cherry blossoms.

Does “will travel for food” sum up your RV spirit? Yeah, me too. Whether it’s a dish I’ve read about or a renowned farm market, I’ve been known to set my compass to seek out culinary adventures. We’re fortunate to live in a time when such journeys aren’t just pos sible but celebrated—a lifestyle made possible by our choices and the legacies of those who came before us, including America’s early food fi nders.

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2024

PHOTO BY MICHAEL POLDA COURTESY OF THE CHINA RANCH DATE FARM