Langeland Award of Excellence
for Outstanding Community Service

In 2007, Edible Communities, Inc. created the Langeland Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service. The annual award is named for its first recipients, Doug and Dianne Langeland, publishers of Edible Cape Cod, the second Edible magazine to launch. The award celebrates the Edible magazine publisher who provides their local food network with the most community service.

2011 Langeland Award Recipient

MELISSA PETERSEN, EDIBLE MEMPHIS

PAST WINNERS:

2007 = DOUG AND DIANNE LANGELAND
2008 = PAMELA HAMILTON, EDIBLE PHOENIX
2009 = MARLA CAMP, EDIBLE AUSTIN
2010 = KURT FRIESE, EDIBLE IOWA RIVER VALLEY

Melissa and Kjeld Peterson, publishers of Edible Memphis, are the recipients of the 2011 Langeland Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service. The Petersons have done a wonderful job connecting the dots in their community, bringing together talent and treasure to get things done. Examples include securing the funding and volunteer labor for the construction of 24 raised beds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where Melissa also volunteers two hours a week in the hospital garden; finding a donor to underwrite the purchase of a system that would enable a new farmers market to accept food stamps and electronic purchases; and convincing someone to give an unrestricted donation of money to start two new gardens in a food desert in South Memphis. They also rounded up local chefs to cook special dinners as a fundraiser for the Memphis Farmers Market, which generated $6,000; got 20 chefs to make 100 gingerbread houses with patients at St. Jude's Hospital; and personally harvested over 100 pounds of chestnuts that Melissa sold to chefs to raise funds for the Botanic Garden.

According to the Langelands, “Many of our fellow Edible publishers are real lynchpins in their local foodsheds. We love the creative ways that Melissa and Kjeld have brought together their community for the common good."

Edible Memphis plans to work with some of their local non-profit partners to identify programs to contribute the cash prize donated by Edible Communities that accompanies the Langeland Award.

The 2011 award were presented at the Edible Communities Annual Conference held in Santa Barbara, CA, in January 2011.