Sustainability on Highway 61

By Sophie Slesinger at April 22, 2010 | 9:36 pm | Print

Last weekend I visited a friend to celebrate the annual “Juke Joint Festival,” in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  In 48 short hours I accumulated around 40 bug bites, grooved alongside legendary blues men and women, and indulged in delicious street food.  The combination of soulful sounds, smoky smells, and sticky sandwiches was the perfect sensory overload.

While I was kind of expecting all of that in the birthplace of blues, what I wasn’t expecting to find in Clarksdale was the timely reminder (it’s Earth Day, people!) of what sustainable food really is.

Instead of a bombardment of green catchphrases on recycled paper menus, the Clarksdale street food reminded me that what sustainable food means is preserving a healthful food culture that allows the land, grower, and consumer to thrive.

Let’s break it down with the ever so popular Clarksdale Crawfish Boil.

The majority of the crawfish served in the U.S. are harvested in Louisiana, so chances are the main ingredient came from a bordering state.  Choosing regional seafood cuts down on your carbon footprint and supports a more local economy.  Nutritionally, crawfish are low in fat and high in protein.  U.S. crawfish also rate “Best Choice,” on Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch, meaning the population is abundant and there is little environmental strain in harvesting these mudbugs.

While the environmental benefits are indeed a key component of sustainable food, equally important is that a crawfish boil is a cultural dish.  The personal memories of a crawfish boil secure its place at the celebratory southern table.

But the best part of seeing the steaming plates of crawfish carried above the Mississippi crowd is the sense of community one whiff of a dish can instantly create.  People eat this dish together, outside, and with their hands.  No one needed a description documenting each sustainable component of the meal, either.  Pair it with the rich voices of true American music; this is the best way to eat sustainably.

Misc Stuff Clarksdale Crawfish Boil, Clarksdale Mississippi, Earth Day, Juke Joint Festival, Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch