Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Neville.
The maker movement is changing the way America eats. As we increasingly want to know where our food comes from and who made it, entrepreneurs are rolling up their sleeves and becoming bread bakers, cheese makers, distillers, brewers and other small-batch makers.
In tasteMAKERS, Emmy-winning producer, and host Catherine is focusing her lens on the artisans who are defining the flavor of American food, offering viewers a unique look at the burgeoning culinary maker movement. This series is a journey into the heart of America, where makers who are focused on flavor create products that reflect the character of their environment as well as their communities.
In Boston, Cat met up with the team from Freight Farms. As global populations increase and the pressure on farmland to produce more and more food rises, hydroponics is being considered as one way to efficiently and sustainably grow more fruits and veggies. Freight Farms is building self-contained hydroponic farms from cast-off shipping containers that can be controlled with an app and make growing food anywhere, in any climate, possible. Cat stopped by the Boston Latin School, Cultivar and be.good to learn how they are utilizing the farms to grow greens, herbs and even flowers on site.
tasteMAKERS’ first 13-episode season of half-hour episodes takes viewers from a shellfish operation in the icy waters off the coast of Washington to a sheep’s milk dairy in the rolling hills of Missouri to a tofu factory in the heart of Chicago to a snail farm on the North Fork of Long Island. Each episode follows a documentary-style story arc, and viewers learn what drives these makers, what inspires them and how they perfected their craft. “Seeking stories over the last 20 years has led me to discover and appreciate the risks these makers take and the determination required to follow their passion,” says Cat. “I’ve seen first hand the positive impact experienced by those who work each day to create something that is unique and personal and, in tasteMAKERS, I am excited to share their stories.”
tasteMAKERS builds upon the work Cat has done on a local and regional level. Her nearly two decades in food media inform the tasteMAKERS trek through the current state of food. “I am inspired by the people I cover and strive to develop content that matches their passion,” she says. “Their work is the backbone of the culinary industry. With tasteMAKERS, I’ll showcase their effort and introduce you to the people whose work reflects the quality and diversity of American food and drink.”
The television show is accompanied by an event series, Meet the Makers, which will connect food lovers across the country with makers, chefs, and farmers. Meet the Makers kicks off in Houston this November with additional events in 2019 in the following cities: Atlanta, San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Raleigh-Durham, Kansas City and Chicago.
tasteMAKERS is presented by Nine Network, St. Louis, MO, and distributed nationally by American Public Television (APT). It premieres on public television stations nationwide beginning October 2018 (check local listings). For more information, including photos and details on the makers, visit our website.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My advice for young women is to believe in yourself and push to follow your dreams. Don’t worry if there’s not a clear path that’s been laid out for you. Make your own path. And know your own worth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about tasteMAKERS – what should we know?
My nearly two decades in food journalism inform tasteMAKERS’ trek through the current state of food. I have launched two culinary magazines and am a publisher of Feast, a regional publication that covers the state of Missouri, eastern Kansas, and southern Illinois. For the past six years, I have produced a regional television series, Feast TV, which airs on PBS stations across Missouri and southern Illinois. Feast TV has won five regional Emmy awards.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
The door is wide open to women. We just have to walk through the door and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.
Contact Info:
- Website: wearetastemakers.com
- Phone: 314-629-2282
- Email: catherine@watchtastemakers.com
- Instagram: @we_are_tastemakers
- Facebook: /wearetastemakers
- Twitter: @tastemakersAPT
Image Credit:
Catherine Neville
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