OPENharvest: Umamimart Goes to Japan

I am ecstatic, beyond words, to announce that Yoko and I will be joining the Bay Area-based art and food collective, OPENrestaurant, on a special trip to Japan in October. We will be there for three weeks, visiting farms and fisheries, interviewing people, blogging and producing live video coverage throughout Japan--all which will culminate in a big huge gala event, OPENharvest, in the beginning of November.

Yoko and I are especially intrigued by the farm visits, and we hope to really get to talk to farmers, fishermen, and everyday people, to see how food is being produced and consumed, post-tsunami. The country still suffers from scarcity of information,

I feel that there is a great connection between California and Japan, in our devotion to the land, the love of ingredients, and the farm to table lifestyle. It is a real honor to be a part of this project, representing Umamimart. Yoko and I are closely working with Meatpaper's Sasha Wizansky on the website, and all things related to the internetz. There are so many awesome people involved, it's really exciting!

Of course, as in all great projects of purpose, we need funding. Please take a moment and check out our Kickstarter page, for details about OPENharvest, and what we aim to accomplish there. Pledge $150 and you get the Wormfun EAT tote and UMAMI apron! Support!

Stay tuned for updates.