Covid, Celebration and the Future: A Note from Edible Houston's Publisher

Boy, what a strange time this is. The copy you are holding in your hands celebrates our fifth anniversary of publishing! We had hoped to celebrate this milestone in person, glass in hand and raised to thank our loyal readers, talented writers and all the people we have written about. Welcome to Plan B.

Although I’m not sure when we’ll be able to meet to celebrate in person, we can celebrate virtually. Our wonderful editor, Francine Spiering, has pulled some of her favorite quotes from the myriad of stories we have shared over these last five years—I know it was a challenge to pick the few we could fit in the magazine. Reading them brought tears to my eyes as I revisited the stories we have shared with you over the years, the stories that matter in our food community. Today, I believe that telling these stories and sharing recipes are more important than ever.

This pandemic will certainly change how we do business in Houston. Pulling up one’s proverbial bootstraps is challenging in and of itself but working toward the new normal without knowing what it will look like requires something else entirely.

I have watched with amazement as business owners re-invented themselves to make ends meet and to keep people working. We’ve learned how important and fragile the food supply chain is. At the same time, we’ve found that local food from the farmers markets was easier to get and just felt safer to purchase. Farmers sold out of their CSA shares and saw new customers shopping at the markets. People cooked at home because they had to. We stayed home, cutting our carbon footprint and giving the environment a much-needed respite. We ventured outside and experienced nature in a more intimate way. Silver linings? Absolutely.

However, we cannot deny how the coronavirus has impacted the most vulnerable among us: those in low-wage jobs; workers in the hospitality industry who lost their jobs; children who depend on school lunches to feed them. The grocery store and delivery workers became essential and put themselves at risk to provide us the essentials we need to survive. Community activists stepped up to provide food, shelter and health care. But moving forward it is clear that we need to anticipate better and make a plan for the future.

I, too, am making a plan for the future. I have decided to answer the loud and persistent call to get back to nature and conservation. The call has been growing over the last couple of years and embracing it feels right and good. That means I am looking for someone to purchase Edible Houston and take over for me as publisher and owner. Someone who wants to provide this platform for our community and expand its reach. Someone who believes in independent media and being the champion of our community.

I’m sharing this with you, Edible Houston’s loyal fan club, in the hopes that you can help me find the right person or organization to take over the company. Don’t worry, I will continue to publish Edible Houston until I find a buyer! I’m excited for the new phase for Edible Houston and for myself.

As the city opens back up, please be safe and support local.

Kim