In Peru, farmers simultaneously plant a wide variety of potatoes to ensure biodiversity and to protect their harvest in case any one variety befalls pest or disease in any given year.

Biodiversity, by definition, is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Preserving biodiversity in our food system allows us to have a wide variety of foods to enjoy. Sadly, many species are in danger due to industrial standardization, the regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental damage. Slow Food USA catalogues many of the fruits and vegetables that are in danger in its Ark of Taste Program.

The good news!
You can play an active part in saving these heirloom fruits and vegetables. You can plant them, eat them, share them with others, or find an Ark of Taste producer in your area. How cool is it that we can actually eat our way out of this problem?

Here is a link to the email I received from Slow Food USA. I thought it was too good not to share, especially because there are discount codes to order Ark of Taste seed packets and plants. Use the promotion codes to order your Ark of Taste seeds and starter plants before April 18, 2013 and get up to 15% off.

Enjoy the variety of life! Happy planting!