Joan Dye Gussow, Pioneer of Eating Locally, Is Dead at 96
Joan Dye Gussow, a trailblazer in the movement to eat locally and sustainably, passed away at the age of 96 on December 22, 2021. Gussow was a groundbreaking figure in the world of food activism, advocating for a return to traditional farming practices and a deeper connection to the food we eat.
Gussow was born in 1928 in New York City and grew up with a love of gardening and cooking. She earned a Ph.D. in nutrition and taught at Columbia University for over 40 years, where she became known for her pioneering research on the connections between food, health, and the environment.
In the 1970s, Gussow began advocating for a shift towards locally grown, seasonal foods as a way to improve health and reduce the environmental impact of our food system. She believed that eating locally not only supported small farmers and local economies, but also fostered a deeper connection to the land and a greater appreciation for the food we eat.
Gussow was a vocal critic of the industrial food system, which she saw as unsustainable and detrimental to both our health and the health of the planet. She was a proponent of organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices, and she practiced what she preached by growing much of her own food in her garden in Piermont, New York.
Gussow’s book, “This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader,” published in 2001, became a seminal work in the food movement, inspiring countless readers to rethink their relationship to food and the land. She was also a co-author of “The Feeding Web: Issues in Nutritional Ecology,” a groundbreaking text that explored the complex relationships between food, health, and the environment.
Throughout her life, Gussow was a tireless advocate for a more sustainable and equitable food system. She believed that by eating locally and seasonally, we could not only improve our own health, but also support a more just and sustainable food system for all.
Gussow’s legacy lives on in the countless individuals and organizations she inspired to take up the cause of eating locally and sustainably. Her work continues to be a guiding light for those seeking to build a healthier, more resilient food system for future generations.
Joan Dye Gussow will be remembered as a pioneer in the movement to eat locally and sustainably, a tireless advocate for a more just and sustainable food system, and a true visionary whose work will continue to inspire generations to come.