David Buchanan

David Buchanan’s book “Taste, Memory: Forgotten Foods, Lost Flavors, and Why They Matter” was released nationally by Chelsea Green Publishing in November, 2012, with a foreword by Gary Paul Nabhan. It describes the work of plant collectors, preservationists, small-scale farmers, and breeders, with an emphasis on restoring rare and unusual regional foods to our fields and tables.

David helped found and for three years led the Portland, Maine chapter of Slow Food. He now serves on its national Ark of Taste Biodiversity Committee, which evaluates and helps preserve endangered heritage foods from around the country.

Taste, Memory describes the trajectory of David’s preservation work since planting his first gardens nearly twenty-five years ago in central Washington State. Today he manages a small organic farm and nursery in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he grows more than 250 varieties of fruit as well as herbs and heirloom vegetables. His current focus is the collection of rare heritage American apples, with an eye toward creating a hard cider business.