Edible readers share memorable food-related books; here is a recommendation from Robert Connelly, Washington, DC

GAINING GROUND
by Forrest Pritchard

In your article you asked for a quick note on a “novel that influenced your life in the kitchen.” One that I recently thoroughly enjoyed reading was Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard. It’s not a novel about cooking, but a memoir on how he learned the value of local food. It highlights his struggles of returning to the family farm, raising a herd of beef cattle, finding a humane slaughter house, and the positive results he saw after selling at the local farmers’ market. It reinforced my commitment to family farmers and the local food movement at farmers markets. It’s a great read that I highly recommend!