Featured Product

Harrison Cider Apple

Photo courtesy of Ben Watson

The Harrison apple originated in Essex County, New Jersey in the early 19th century and…

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Describing and Promoting Forgotten Flavors

The Ark is an international catalog of foods that are threatened by industrial standardization, the regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental damage. In an effort to cultivate consumer demand—key to agricultural conservation—only the best tasting endangered foods make it onto the Ark.

Since 1996, more than 800 products from over 50 countries have been added to the international Ark of Taste. The US Ark of Taste profiles over 200 rare regional foods, and is a tool that helps farmers, ranchers, fishers, chefs, retail grocers, educators and consumers celebrate our country's diverse biological, cultural and culinary heritage.

Nominate a Product to the Ark of Taste

To qualify for the US Ark of Taste, food products must be:

• Outstanding in terms of taste—as defined in the context of local traditions and uses
• At risk biologically or as culinary traditions
• Sustainably produced
• Culturally or historically linked to a specific region, locality, ethnicity or traditional production practice
• Produced in limited quantities, by farms or by small-scale processing companies

Product categories include vegetables, fruits and berries, nuts, cereals, cheeses, fish, shellfish, game, livestock, poultry, beverages, honey, spices, syrups, vinegars, and more. For a complete list of Ark categories, click here.

The Slow Food USA biodiversity committee evaluates Ark of Taste nominations on an on-going basis.

Download the U.S. Ark of Taste Brochure

Download the U.S. Ark of Taste Nomination Form

Read about current biodiversity committee members

Find Ark of Taste Producers

Each Ark of Taste product profile includes a short list of producers, seed sources or nursery stock sources.

Slow Food USA has also teamed up with LocalHarvest, a comprehensive online directory of small farmers, farmers markets and other local food sources, to increase the visibility of Ark foods – encouraging producers to grow more foods in danger of disappearing, and consumers to seek them out in the marketplace. Slow Food USA does not review the information found in the listings. You should contact the farm to confirm that their listing is current and review the Farming Practices section of their listing.

Search for producers of Ark products in the LocalHarvest directory

Register for the free LocalHarvest directory if you sell Ark products

Learn About the Betsy Lydon Ark Award

The Betsy Lydon Ark Award recognizes an Ark of Taste farmer, grower or food producer whose work reflects the goals of Slow Food USA and who, if better known and celebrated, would benefit the wider community of food producers. Producers can nominate themselves, or can be nominated by a community member or peer.

Read more.

Get Involved and Learn More

Many foods fall out of favor because they do not fit into our industrial food production system. Although the foods may still be produced on a small scale, their flavors, fragrances and textures slip into obscurity. Through action we can help preserve these foods.

Here are several ways to get involved:

• Encourage a local chef or restaurant to use heirloom or heritage foods
• Grow heirloom fruits and vegetables in your garden
• Host a dinner or picnic featuring regional foods that deserve a long-term place on our plate
• Organize a field trip to seek out the rare foods in your area
• Start a recovery project for an endangered food or food production method
• Become a seed saver or fruit explorer and organize seasonal events to exchange varieties with others in your community
• Nominate a food deserving attention from your region to the Ark of Taste
• Join Slow Food USA and become active in your local chapter!