America's Heartland - Episode 214 Summary

Episode 214

It’s the culmination of months of planning, hard work, and praying for good weather. Harvest time is both the symbolic and actual end of a year’s hopes and dreams for farmers throughout the heartland. Paul Ryan visits a Washington wheat farm to witness this crucial, beautiful event. There are a lot of places in the Heartland where the catchphrase is “buy local.” Good advice for keeping dollars flowing through your own community. But how do you also help your local farmers? Farmers' markets are one way, but across the heartland, other ideas are taking root and even some local and state governments are lending a hand. It's a truth shared by both farmers and food fans, grocers and gourmet if you want to promote a product, put on a festival! Paul Ryan found one remarkable success story in northern California. It's where, nearly thirty years ago, garlic growers got together with local lovers of the aromatic herb. The result a world famous food fair that's now considered a model of successful marketing. If those of us who enjoy tea at our breakfast table tried to buy “locally-grown,” they’d be sorely disappointed. That is, unless they happened to live in the Charleston, South Carolina area. That’s where our country’s only tea plantation is. It’s the crown jewel in one family’s thriving business. Finally, there’s another beverage we’re seeing more of these days that may not quite have the refinement of a cup of tea but it’s trying. Paul says it’s apple cider, hard apple cider. One couple in Oregon decided it’s time to update hat old blue-collar refreshment and compete with some of those highbrow bubbly spirits coming from France.
	Wheat Harvest The harvest in the heartland is the final act in an exciting and unpredictable play. It’s the culmination of months of planning, hard work, sweat and a few prayers. And for wheat farmers in Washington State it can be the most important weeks of the year.
	Using Local Products Much of the bounty from America’s wheat harvest, and other crops, ends up in markets and on tables around the world. But, increasingly important in many areas of the United States is a drive to “Buy Local.” The goal.to help your local farmer. Farmers' markets are one way – but across the heartland, other ideas are taking root...and even some local and state governments are lending a hand.
	Garlic Growers/Garlic Fesitval Now, it doesn’t work for every commodity, but there’s one remarkable success story in northern California. That's where, nearly thirty years ago, garlic growers got together with local lovers of that scented herb. The result a world famous food fair; considered a model of successful marketing.
	Bigelow Tea Charleston, South Carolina area. That’s where our country’s only tea plantation is. It’s the crown jewel in one family’s thriving business.
	Oregon Apples and Hard Apple Cider Life couldn’t be sweeter these days for Kristin Ford. With the help of her family and friends, Kristin is renewing an old American tradition: churning out hard apple cider-an alcoholic beverage that was a staple in homes during America’s colonial era.

The Monsanto Company and the American Farm Bureau Federation make presentation of America's Heartland possible.

Additional production and promotion assistance is provided by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, United Soybean Board and U.S. Grains Council.