TCNJ

17 LISK FENG evolutionary biologist at Northwestern University, studies underutilized crops such as breadfruit and jackfruit (which are genetically related). The nutritious breadfruit, Zerega noted, can survive in regions lacking a reliable food supply. The jackfruit, meanwhile, is believed to be the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, weighing as much as an average 13-year-old child. "Genetic diversity is important to maintaining our foods," says Wendy Clement, the biology professor who chaired the Tree of Life's planning committee. (In her keynote, Zerega recalled the Irish potato famine of the 1840s as a tragic example of what can happen when a food supply lacking diversity is attacked by disease.) "Food crops are constantly subject to new diseases and new pests, and we're always working to improve our crops to be more efficient and more resistant to these things," Clement says. "But we have to work within the confines of how evolution works." The Tree of Life project posed a special challenge for TCNJ Executive Chef Lauren Franchetti. Organizers initially presented her with a list of hundreds of potential menu items. Over much back-and-forth, the list was distilled to 149, which Franchetti and her staff then incorporated into the day's meal, including the breadfruit and jackfruit, which she had never worked with before.. "It was physically challenging to cut open all the jackfruit," Franchetti says. "We had two people 1. What percentage of the world's food crops depends at least in part on pollination? A. 25 B. 50 C. 75 D. 100 2. Tomatoes are synonymous with Italian cuisine. In fact, the tomato originated in what part of the world? A. South America B. South Jersey C. The South Pacific D. The South of France 3. Which island nation's coinage has featured breadfruit? A. Nauru B. Samoa C. Australia D. Haiti 4. Jackfruit is considered a good source of which nutrient? A. Calcium B. Potassium C. Protein D. All of the above 5. Humans have domesticated 10,000 plants. How many do we use in our regular diets? A. 90 B. 1,000 C. 5,000 D. 9,999 6. In total, rice, wheat, and corn account for what percentage of global food consumption? A. 10–20 B. 30–40 C. 50–60 D. 70–80 Answers: 1 C; 2 A; 3 B; 4 D; 5 A; 6 C. Crunch Time Test your biodiverse foodie knowledge. who spent the entire day before just cutting and cleaning it." By all accounts, the menu was a five-star hit. Between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Eickhoff served nearly 3,300 visitors, nearly 300 more than average. Organizers were especially tickled to see so many students embrace the more unusual foods. The crickets, especially, seemed to go like can- dy, with diners comparing them favorably to catfish, codfish, and popcorn. "I could not believe how many people came back for more crickets," Franchetti says. The lessons of the Tree of Life project also seemed to hit their intended marks: A survey of diners found the event heightened their awareness of the importance of biodiversity in our meals. Farley, for one, says she hadn't given much thought to the variety of the foods we eat before walking into Eickhoff that day. "I was talking to one girl and she was saying we only eat about two percent of the edible foods that the world has to offer," Farley says. "If we were to utilize all the plants on the planet, we'd be able to solve world hunger. That's an idea that's really resonated with me." Anthony Bourdain, are you listening? A former senior editor at New Jersey Monthly, Christopher hann wrote "Trenton Makes Music" in the Winter 2017 issue.

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