What types of food do and don’t qualify for Hungry for History® markers?
Hungry for History spotlights the diversity of foods across the United States embedded in community history, cultural heritage and traditions. To qualify for a marker, food dishes need to meet specific criteria.
Qualifying food must meet all the following criteria:
Prepared, ready-to-eat dishes, such as an entrée or dessert, containing a minimum of 2 ingredients or dishes composed of a single ingredient that is only found within a specific location or region (e.g. Blue Point oysters from Great South Bay, Dungeness crabs from Pacific coast); Non-alcoholic drinks with more than one ingredient (e.g. egg creams); Food-related events or festivals that celebrate an individual dish that is historically significant to the greater community (events held solely as fundraisers do not qualify) and must still be held at time of application; Food or event must be created at least 50 years prior to the year of application; Food or event must be historically significant to the greater community or beyond, demonstrating a local tradition or aspect of cultural heritage; Dish (or specific variation) must have origins in the local or regional community; Dish is still available/eaten today or in some form.
What does not qualify?
Alcoholic beverages do not currently qualify. Current brand names are not allowed (e.g. Hershey’s, Kraft, etc.). Food/dishes that are available only through commercial production, including a restaurant’s signature dish not available elsewhere, do not qualify. That said, if the dish is not a brand name it may still qualify provided it has moved beyond being commercially produced and people in the local community make it themselves.
Categories: Hungry for History