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« Pastry Chef Sherry Yard February 23, 2007
My friend Patricia Rain was just pronounced to be fully-cleared of an agressive and invasive cancer, which she'd been fighting with a combination of mainstream and alternative treatments since 2004.
We're often faced with lots of choices in the marketplace. And when we are, lots of reasons come into play; economics, quality, price, convenience and politics. For most of us, we're fortunate that we have the freedom to decide for ourselves what each of us wants to do. But often the things we buy do have a direct effect on local economies, and vanilla, being the most labor-intensive and highly-prized crop in the world, has led to a great deal of violence in the regions where it's cultivated between growers and rustlers. Many less-fortunate people depend on getting a fair-price for their beans, which directly affects their livelihoods. I'm happy to have a supplier that I respect and trust, and who's dedicated her life and business to working to ensure her products are both of the highest quality and benefit the growers and producers as well. So each time I take that little brown bottle of vanilla from my kitchen cabinet and take a sniff before adding a few drops to whatever I'm baking, I'm gratified for the wonderful scent she's given me and happy that a very small amount of something can perhaps have a very positive impact.
Comments Which one do you buy? At the shops there is only one to choose. I'm for fair trade, but sono un pò confusa. Posted by Judith in Umbria at February 23, 2007 8:55 AM I'm always up for great vanilla. About a month ago I bought the beans you show in your amazon.com store -- they're marvelous. Big, juicy and fragrant. Mmm. Posted by Jessica at February 23, 2007 11:42 AM Nice to hear a survivor story and 3 cheers for politically correct shopping whenever you can. I'm always somewhat envious when I read about someone like Patricia Rain who finds their "quest" in life and succeeds in following it. Posted by Ben at February 23, 2007 12:20 PM I'm thrilled for your friend. So lovely to read good news in the morning, David. (And vanilla? Yes.) Posted by shauna at February 23, 2007 12:26 PM I am happy to hear that Patricia Rain is well. I am reading her book right now, published in 2004, and she mentions in the acknowledgments her cancer diagnosis. This is definitely the place to talk about a vanilla producer that I read about in Waitrose's magazine. There is a woman named Lulu Sturdy (great name eh?) who has recently started retailing some of the first ever Fairtrade vanilla. It's called Ndali Vanilla and it's grown in Uganda without the use of pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers. I know it's available at Waitrose stores in the UK. Posted by Nelle Gretzinger at February 23, 2007 1:16 PM Thanks for a really interesting post, David. Nelle - I'll look out for the fairtrade vanilla at Waitrose. I usually get mine from a stall in Broadway Market but have not seen any recently so had to use bottled vanilla extract instead. Posted by Trig at February 23, 2007 2:40 PM Funny, just this morning Sara Moulton had an entire show about vanilla, in which she referenced The Vanilla Queen (see link here.) Sara made a hybrid dessert of rice pudding and creme brulee (vanilla, natch) which had me drooling alll over the eliptical machine. Did I mention I was at the gym while watching? Yeah, even when I'm working out, I'm thinking of my next dessert. I'm very happy to hear of Patricia's recovery. Posted by Joanna at February 23, 2007 6:34 PM Judith: I am addicted to Patricia's Mexican extract (not to be confused with the cheap, artificial, toxic stuff sold to tourists in Mexico), which has the sweet, creamy perfume like good vanilla gelato. Last trip to the states, I brought back 2 quarts! Posted by David at February 24, 2007 7:02 AM Sending good thoughts. I read about the Vanilla Queen on Chef2Chef recently. Take care. Posted by Christine at February 24, 2007 8:04 PM
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