USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs Ted tells us all about the Thanksgiving and the scrumptious celebration
Could you explain what Thanksgiving is all about to those who might not be familiar with it?
It means just want it says, Thanksgiving. It started when the early settlers moving to the US. They were struggling because they were not familiar with the area. So American Indians helped them grow crops and learn how to assimilate to the land. And it became a good relationship. Thanksgiving was when the American Indians and the white settlers came together, cook their own dishes and celebrate the end of the harvest season. And it’s the time when family comes together to be thankful and spend time with each other. Now you can be thankful for so many things. I would say in agriculture and food, you’re thankful for bringing in a successful harvest. It’s when the family comes together for good food.
What’s the essential role of food in Thanksgiving?
There’s a growing movement of people going to restaurants to eat [on Thanksgiving Day] but it’s still very much of going to someone’s home for a home-cooked meal. Turkey is oftentimes the menu of choice.
You have been working in many countries across the world. Can you give us some examples of how Thanksgiving is celebrated differently around the world?
Other countries in the world do not have Thanksgiving as a holiday as we do. But they are learning about it. We are happy to teach them about it. Oftentimes, it is through the sales of American products. But that’s less important than they’re getting together. [They can use local produce]. It’s terrific. It’s all about celebrating with people, family and food.
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?
It has to be the turkey. That’s the good starting point. But the close second would have to be gravy. I love gravy, home-made gravy. We make stuffing. Apple pie or with cherry or strawberry. You can get them all year round thanks to international travel. And mashed potato with loads of gravy.
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