Sifting the Inner Belt 篩羅內環 Tamizando el Cinturón Interno

Newsletter which highlights herbs and health practices of Asians and Asian Americans

Usha R. Palaniswamy Ph.D.
University of Connecticut
Asian American Studies Institute -
School of Allied Health
354 Mansfiled Road, U-2091
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2901
[email protected]

Publishes a newsletter called: Purslane, which is named after the Asian vegetable Portulaca oleraceae L., and which highlights herbs and health practices of Asians and Asian Americans.

"ethnographic landscapes" as "cultural landscapes" as defined by NPS

http://www.cityofseattle.net/commnty/histsea/
preservationseattle/preservationenv/defaultsept.htm

September 2002: Preserving Cultural Landscapes
By Heather MacIntosh

Preserving cultural landscapes is a relatively new preservation concept. Cultural landscapes are manmade environments that demonstrate a history of use, and include earthworks and structures that evidence this past. Cultural landscapes differ from conventional preservation districts in that
historic buildings are only one of a set of resources within the boundaries of significance. Cultural landscape preservation is a melding of archaeology, conventional fieldwork, vernacular architectural history, and environmental history.

The Value of Historic Landscapes

Conceiving a landscape as historic or meaningful, in the same way that an individual building or district is significant, is not especially difficult. Anyone who has driven or walked through a historic farm complex
with its surrounding fields and hedgerows, or walked through the remains of an abandoned coal mining town, can understand that the value of the whole is certainly greater than any individual element. The problem lies in balancing development pressures, highest and best use, and property rights while at the same time identifying and protecting the most significant landscapes and their cultural artifacts. A cultural landscape is defined as "a geographic area, including both cultural and natural resources and the wildlife or domestic animals therein, associated with a historic event, activity, or person or exhibiting other cultural or aesthetic values." The National Parks Service acknowledges four general types of cultural landscapes, none of which are mutually exclusive. These include historic sites, historic designed landscapes, historic vernacular landscapes, and ethnographic landscapes. Examples in the Seattle area include Volunteer Park and its adjacent cemetery, the Arboretum, the Route 2 from I-5 toward the North Cascades, Chuckanut Drive near Bellingham, Gas Works Park, and the remains of historic Newcastle, located south of Bellevue.

The National Park Service developed a "Preservation Brief" on cultural landscapes in 1992. Official acknowledgement of the value of cultural landscapes, and their role in reflecting our country's development and relationship with the natural environment, has directly coincided with growing concern about sprawl. As national trends toward urban renewal, and the resulting demolition of urban landmarks sparked the preservation movement and federal policies governing historic structures, so do continuing development trends influence the emergence of new issues and policies. Current programs such as Barn Again!, a nationwide initiative to save rural barns, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's public, decade-long fight against sprawl, are other examples of the importance of preserving landscape within the evolving preservation ethic.

Documenting Cultural Landscapes

Tools used by investigators researching the history of landscapes can be valuable to more conventional historians. One of the primary differences between cultural landscape research and conventional architectural history research is the extensive use of maps, surveys, and aerial photographs.
Understanding the relationship between historic development and the composition of soils through soil maps and geological surveys is a compelling way to interpret history. Rural development patterns, overlain on these kinds of geological datasets, directly demonstrate the connection between nature and culture.

Aerial photographs, especially a series taken over time, are an invaluable tool for landscape and community historians. The University of Washington's Map Room has a number of aerial photographs and other graphic resources helpful to historians.

Our area is also lucky to have a comprehensive, Depression Era, photographic survey within the regional branch of the Washington State Archives. These are organized by plat number, which is a spatial system, so that researchers looking through a single file group can understand patterns of vernacular architectural styles, and groupings, with very little effort.

Cultural Landscapes as Planning and Design Tools

Given the Pacific Northwest's love of the outdoors, it is not surprising that this area is home to one of the more successful cultural landscape preservation projects in the country. The Mountains to Sound Greenway, which extends over 100 miles across the Cascades on I-90 to Seattle's downtown waterfront, came into being thanks to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. Since the summer of 1990, they worked hard to advocate for and protect a conservation network along this corridor. This overlay
preserves green spaces around Seattle and surrounding rural communities. The greenway includes an extensive trail network, working farms and forests, and provides opportunities to experience nature and history.

Three primary interpretative landmarks, the Mercer Slough Nature Park, Snoqualmie Point, and the Cedar River Watershed Educational Center, tie the lengthy corridor together. Rene Senos, an associate for Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects, and the firm's liaison to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, is an enthusiastic supporter of the program. She notes that the interpretative centers are "distinct places with their own unique cultural and ecological character … they breathe life into the Greenway concept. Children, families, and individuals can literally see, touch, and experience the landscape in profound and meaningful ways. Whether peering through a microscope at Mercer Slough
organisms, surveying the dramatic panoramic view of the Cascade Mountains from Snoqualmie Point, or discovering the remarkable journey of a raindrop at Cedar River Watershed, visitors are encouraged to perceive the natural environment and their relationship to it with new eyes."

The story of this region is well told in its landscape, and the systems that operate within it. Seeing and understanding this history through the landscape coincides well with this region's longstanding enthusiasm for, and connection to our natural environment.

A calendar of agricultural fairs in Massachusetts

I think we should try to get the Bitter Melon week on this schedule next year...

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Liu [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 10:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: agricultural fairs...

http://www.mass.gov/agr/fairs/fairs_directory.htm

Agricultural Marketing as Social Performance

As part of the "Social Performance Art" element of Sifting, I think we should pursue funding for Bitter Melon promotion from this grant program...

JL

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Liu [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:52 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Agricultural Marketing Grants Program...

http://www.mass.gov/agr/markets/grants/index.htm

Bureau of Markets
Agricultural Marketing Grants Program

The Department’s Agricultural Marketing Grant Program provides agricultural organizations the opportunity to receive matching grant funds to assist in their promotional efforts. Grants range from $500 to $15,000. All grant recipients are required to acknowledge the Department’s support and/or use
the "Massachusetts Grown…and Fresher!" or "Mass. Made with Pride" logos in order to receive grant funds. Contact: Mary Jordan 617-626-1750

Mary Jordan
Brueau of Markets
Massachusetts Departmetn of Food & Agriculture
251 Causeway Street, Suite 251
Boston, MA 02114
Phone (617) 626-1750
Fax (617) 626-1850

MA Dept. of Food and Agriculture Calendar of Events

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Liu [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:50 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: MA Div of Food and Agriculture website

To have your agriculture, horticulture, or food related event listed on the MDFA Calendar of Events, click here to send your information by e-mail. Be sure to include: the date, time, location, sponsor or host, and contact info (phone, e-mail and/or web site.)

http://www.mass.gov/agr/events/pages/10_oct_04.htm

More models for the Bitter Melon board...

Links for Fruit & Vegetable Web Sites:
http://www.greenstonefcs.com/links/category.cfm?id=1

Michigan Apple Committee | http://www.michiganapples.com/
The Michigan Apple Committee homepage - including apple recipes, apple facts, calendar of apple festivals, farm market information and industry information.

Michigan Peach Sponsors | http://www.michiganpeach.org/
Michigan Peach Sponsors is a non-profit organization for research and promotion of peaches.

Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board | http://www.asparagus.org/
Home of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board and Esparrago Asparagus Guacamole.

Michigan Potato Industry Commission | http://www.mipotato.com/
The mission of this commission is to foster and promote an economically viable potato industry in Michigan by providing responsible leadership for the industry. The Michigan Potato Industry Commission will maintain adequate funding sources to achieve its goals through research, promotion, education, and communication.

Michigan Corn Growers Association | http://www.micorn.org/
The Home Page of the Michigan Corn Growers Association & The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan.

Kingcorn - The Corn Growers Guidebook | http://www.kingcorn.org/
The objective of the KingCorn.org Web site is to offer a Web-based encyclopedia of knowledge about the production, marketing and usage of corn in North America. KingCorn.org includes the latest technology and information from major agricultural universities, governmental agencies, corn grower organizations and agricultural industries across Canada and the United States.

National Corn Growers Association | http://www.ncga.com/
NCGA is a national organization founded in 1957 and represents more than 31,000 dues-paying corn growers from 48 states. NCGA also represents the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute to corn checkoff programs in 19 states. NCGA is a federation of state organizations, corn boards, councils and commissions, which develops and implements polices and programs on a state and national level to help protect and advance the corn producer's interests.

America Soybean Association | http://www.asa-europe.org/
The American Soybean Association is a non-profit, farmer controlled organization working to maintain and increase demand for U.S. origin soybeans and soybean products. Our aim is to provide data and
information focussing on the soy complex around the world but specifically in Europe.

National Potato Council | http://www.npcspud.com/
The National Potato Council represents all U.S. potato growers, providing a unified voice on a national level in legislative, regulatory, environmental, and trade areas crucial to its members' long
term success.

Sugarbeet Research and Education Board | http://www.sbreb.org/
The board serves as an expert source of information on the sugar industry and gives aid to the extension services in both states.

National Onion Association | http://www.onions-usa.org/
The official organization representing growers, shippers, brokers, and commercial representatives of the U.S. onion industry.

California Tomato Commission | http://www.tomato.org/
The home page of the California fresh market tomato industry, with consumer information including recipes, nutrition, and fun facts!

U.S. Apple Association | http://www.usapple.org/
USApple is the national trade association for the U.S. apple industry. Our members include apple growers, packers, shippers, marketers, processors and allied businesses from across the United States, and around the world.

Cherry Marketing Institute | http://www.cherrymkt.org/
Provides consumers, retailers, exporters, food service, media and others with information about tart cherries, including recipes, promotion materials

Fresh Produce and Floral Council | http://www.fpfc.org/
Fresh Produce and Floral Council stimulates the promotion and sale of fresh fruit, vegetables and floral products.

North American Blueberry Council | http://www.blueberry.org/
North American Blueberry Council - promoting highbush blueberries. The purpose of this site is to inform and promote the use of blueberries in the consumer, foodservice, food industry and export markets.

National Watermelon Promotion Board | http://www.watermelon.org/
Nonprofit organization established by watermelon growers and handlers to increase demand for watermelon through promotion, research, and education.

International Fresh-cut Produce Association | http://www.fresh-cuts.org/
IFPA serves commercial producers, suppliers and distributors of fresh- cut produce, as well as affiliated companies such as equipment and packaging manufacturers, and provides a forum where members benefit from representation, education, technical support, networking opportunities, information and resources. Fresh-cut produce is defined as any fresh fruit or vegetable or any combination thereof that has beed physically altered from its original form, but remains in a fresh state.

The Mushroom Council | http://www.mushroomcouncil.com/
Guide to mushrooms with mushroom recipes and information on fresh, gourmet mushrooms including exotic varieties, cooking mushrooms, nutrition, mushroom growing, cleaning, storing, folklore and history

Produce Marketing Association | http://www.pma.com/
The Produce Marketing Association, founded in 1949, is a not-for-profit global trade association serving over 2,400 members who market fresh fruits, vegetables, and related products worldwide. Its members are involved in the production, distribution, retail, and foodservice sectors of the industry.

Wheat Foods Council | http://www.wheatfoods.org/
The Wheat Foods Council is a national nonprofit organization formed to help increase awareness of dietary grains as an essential component to a healthy diet.

...a guide to Asian vegetables...

http://nutrition.tufts.edu/research/nesfp/products.html

"NESFP marketing efforts also included development of a guide to Asian vegetables, covering crop history and common culinary uses. This guide is available for $1.00 and can be had at farmers markets or by contacting us directly."

Interesting stories about eating in Chinatown...

http://www.chowhound.com/newengland/

More about test tests...

http://www.ingenta.com/isis/searching/Expand/ingenta?pub=infobike://hsp/jt/2001/00000010/00000001/art00004

Taste tests: Impacts of consumer perceptions and preferences on brand positioning strategies  
Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing 2001, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 26-41(16)
Ghose S.; Lowengart O.
 
Abstract:
Taste tests are being increasingly used by marketers
to influence consumers to change their preferences
toward their brands. This research indicates how
perceptual and preferential taste tests can be used in conjunction with visual maps to provide support to marketing managers for making better brand positioning and targeting decisions on the basis of taste for different segments of consumers. An empirical blind taste-test study is used to illustrate the concepts. The preferential taste judgment part of the empirical study is designed to capture violations of the 'Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives' (IIA) effect that is commonly observed in consumers' actual purchases. The present paper also uses a hypothetical example to indicate the importance of considering the location of consumer 'ideal points' before making formulation changes in a brand as part of a targeting strategy. Various managerial implications of using the suggested perceptual preferential taste-mapping analyses are also discussed. Appropriate measurements of consumer tastes provide insights for identifying and targeting viable market segments.

Keywords: marketing; strategy; direct; accountability; performance measurement; customer relationship management; CRM; advertising; loyalty; balanced scorecards; geodemographics; segmentation; one-to-one; customer satisfaction; e-business; branding
 
Language: English
Document Type: Regular paper
ISSN: 0967-3237
SICI (online): 0967-32371012641
Publisher: Henry Stewart Publications

Growing and marketing Chinese vegetables in Kentucky?

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-496.html

Jia, W., M. Witt, and Strang. 1996. Growing and marketing Chinese vegetables in central Kentucky. p. 496-500. In: J. Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops. ASHS Press, Arlington, VA.

Growing and Marketing Chinese Vegetables in Central Kentucky
Wenwei Jia, Mary Witt, and John Strang

METHODOLOGY
RESULTS
SUMMARY
REFERENCES
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3

In the last 30 years, Asian immigrants entering the United States increased rapidly. Chinese immigrants alone, including persons from Taiwan and Hong Kong, numbered more than 680,000 from 1960 to 1992. The 1994 Statistical Abstract of the United States reported total resident population of Asian and Pacific Islanders was 3.8 million in 1980 (1.56% of total U.S. population), 8.4 million in 1992 (3.2%), and is projected to be 11.0 million (4.4%) in 2000 (U.S. Bureau of Statistics 1994). Geographic distribution of Asians is 18.4% in the northeast, 10.6% in the midwest, 15.4% in the south, and 55.7% in western United States (Larckom 1991). Population is almost evenly distributed in the central city, urban, and rural areas. Asian population in Kentucky was 18,712 people in 1995 (Bureau of the Census 1990a). Lexington Kentucky has 1,149 Asian households (3,713 people) or 1.6% of the total Lexington population was Asian (Bureau of the Census 1990b). Lexington ranked sixth in the top ten U.S. cities for increased rate of international immigrants during 1994.

In China, the average vegetable consumption is 300 to 400 g per person per day (Li 1990) which is higher than any western European country or the U.S. Vegetables are basic to Chinese cooking and are found in some form in most dishes. Traditional Chinese cooking methods, such as steaming and stir-frying, are now widely adopted in the west. The use of Chinese vegetables is not limited to Chinese cuisine. Many are used for Oriental and European cooking and may be used as substitutes in, or tasty additions to American dishes.

In China, written record of cultivated vegetables were found 2500 years ago (Li 1990). For thousands of years, China has developed its vegetable industry and has become rich in vegetable resources. More than 170 species, including water, perennial, and wild vegetables are used in China today. Vegetables were also brought to China from all over the world during the last 2000 years. Breeding programs resulted in new vegetable forms and cultivars of vegetables grown for centuries, such as celtuce, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cucumbers, and Chinese melons. (Li 1990). Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, giant oriental radishes, and pak choi are now familiar to the U.S. market, but China has a treasure of lesser-known, delectable, and highly adaptable vegetables which may be easily grown all over the world (Li 1990; Larkcom 1991).

Chinese and Oriental cuisine are of great interest to Americans despite the fact that high quality, authentic fresh ingredients demanded by Chinese cooking are often unavailable. The market demand for specialty and gourmet vegetables continues to expand as more and more attention is given to vegetables by nutritionists, food editors, food suppliers, and restauranteurs. Many vegetables are rich in fiber, minerals, iron, calcium, and vitamins. Vegetables have always been used in China for their curing effects and to keep healthy (Gu, Chen 1989). It is trendy to eat vegetables, especially specialty vegetables, and people are ready for a change.

Data gathered for this experiment of growing Chinese and Oriental vegetables helped determine the feasibility of growing Oriental vegetables for people with interest in diverse vegetables. The research could help farmers in Kentucky grow a diversity of crops and supply new niche markets.