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The History of American Food

Margaret Hardin
The History of American Food
Latest episode

219 episodes

  • The History of American Food

    177 Bringing the Sea's Bounty to You - In a Can - But at what Cost?

    15/07/2026 | 27 mins.
    Wanna see bears?  goto Explore.org
    See how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery?

    Follow the links

    And then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century.  Instant protein you can take with you anywhere.  The cottage cheese of the 19th century - but no refrigeration needed.

    But - being able to can every last oyster and slamon we could get our hands on had a cost - as well as a payoff.

    Listen in to find out more 

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
  • The History of American Food

    176 New Technology for American Corn

    09/07/2026 | 38 mins.
    Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not?  I made the correct decision.  Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef.  

    Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere.  With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food.

    So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through the past and late 1800's presence of corn in the American Food system.

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
  • The History of American Food

    175 New American Sugar

    01/07/2026 | 29 mins.
    Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"

    It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.

    The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.
    The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the front of the Suger Consumer Pack.  And we'll stay there.

    To get into the nitty gritty of Sugar vs. The World - Check out Sidney Mintz Sweetness and Power
    To dig deep into what American Corruption looked like at the start of the 20th Century check out The Teapot Dome Scandal  by Laton McCartney

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
  • The History of American Food

    174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt

    24/06/2026 | 31 mins.
    This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic.  And it is all my fault.
    But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.
    Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America.  It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer.  Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt.  And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
  • The History of American Food

    173.5 BONUS Interview - The Pickled City

    17/06/2026 | 49 mins.
    This week I talk to 

    Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book 
    The Pickled CIty   Availible in Bookstores now!

    We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles.  I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way.  So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and History

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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About The History of American Food
Starting with the first English settlements in the 17th Century, this podcasts traces how we went from barrels of salted meat & peas to Korean bbq tacos and the largest grocery store selections ever seen anywhere in the world. We'll go everywhere - and it is full of surprises.Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood@gmail.comInternets: @THoAFood
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