The History of American Food

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176 New Technology for American Corn

July 09, 2026

Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not?  I made the correct decision.  Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef.  Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere.  With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food.So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through th...

175 New American Sugar

July 01, 2026

Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at t...

174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt

June 24, 2026

This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic.  And it is all my fault.But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America.  It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer.  Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt.  And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofame...