Anna Brones

This week we speak with Anna Brones about what's fueled her work in writing, illustration, and publishing and her passion for stories about food, fiber, and the people that raise them. She publishes a seasonal journal called Comestible, the food blog Foodie Underground, and sells other lovely illustrated goodies, including books and greeting cards and upcycled earrings.

Get in touch with Anna: annabrones@gmail.com

What do you do?

I am an author, artist, and publisher. I publish the seasonal food journal Comestible, which is a collection of stories and recipes inspired by food, the places it comes from and the people who grow it.

How did you first get interested in working with food?

I grew up helping my mother in the kitchen. She had a very healthy, straightforward approach to eating, and I think that shaped my own food values. I have always tried to buy organic, but it was not until I read Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma that the way I thought about food and how I bought it began to totally shift. I launched Comestible in 2016 because I felt there was a need for more real stories about food and food production.

What are you working on right now? What are you most excited about?

Right now I am putting the fall/winter issue of Comestible together. Self-publishing is no small feat, and there is so much that goes into going from concept to finished product. But it's a good challenge: I love working with writers and producing art that challenges people to think differently about their food. 

I'm also excited about the growing conversation about food and fashion. There are a lot of crossovers between what we eat and what we wear, and organizations like Fibershed are leading the charge in helping to promote regional fiber systems that are fully integrated with regional food systems.

What frustrates you most about your work or the current food culture at large? What do you wish to change the most?

I think we have over-romanticized food and become too precious about it, entirely ignoring the work that goes into bringing it to our plates. I just read this article on NPR about labor in the food industry, and it really struck a nerve.

I also think that we are too food-trend obsessed. Everything is about the latest superfood, etc. Instead we need a holistic, well rounded approach to what we eat.

Any recent moments of optimism? Things you see changing for the better?

I think that in general people are thinking more and more about where their food comes from and about the impact of their food choices. There is also a growing amount of reporting on important food issues. The more that we are educated about our food system, the better we can work to change it.

What's your favorite vegetable to eat, grow, or wear?

I have always loved, and hopefully will always love carrots pulled straight out of the ground. We grew them in our garden growing up, and there is something so magical about the combination of sweetness and crunchiness, offset by the occasional musty piece of soil you end up chewing on.